The school district called that blogs story completely inaccurate and not something it would permit. For foreign students. He is going on 16 years old this year, and has been with us a long time. I have two grandkids in school and my grandkids didnt want to go to school anymore," she said. It's also worth noting that while McKenna claimed on Pesta's podcast that she had received multiple emails about these furry protocols, the email she presents is the same email Pesta has been showcasing during his presentations. Thank you for supporting our journalism. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Michigan had installed litter boxes in order to appease students who had started identifying as cats, there's no evidence that any schools in Michigan installed litterboxes for their students. "This is a rumor that has been circulating nationally, and more recently in our community, and is simply just that, a rumor, and is not in any way accurate. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Ive studied more than 40,000 furries from 70 different countries over a decade, she said. A couple of students identify as cats and demanded a litter box. No wonder they get confused, self conscious, low self esteem, and a lot more negative issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. It's The #2 BEST Way To . The Jefferson County school district disputed Ganahls claims and said its dress code prohibits costumes at school. Silver Honda CRV seen fleeing towards Manton Ave. Cranston stand off https://fb.watch/iZ0CaYIkSb/?mibextid=ykz3hl, Copyright John DePetro. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. This thing has gotten out of control with politicians just wanting to have a talking point, said John McDonald, former director of campus safety at Jefferson County schools, whos now a school security consultant. Accountability is not a crime.. Anti-monarchy activists 'turn Buckingham Palace into polling station'. But this post tells a story that simply didn't happen. Back to school: Oregon trans student's advice to LGBTQ youth. Its like that show and South Park are sort of grandfathered in and get away with things due to their success, but new shows wouldnt be allowed near some of these topics with a 10-foot pole. Where did you get your info. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? The email was also published in a regional Facebook group. NBC News spoke to three school-age furries who have posted on TikTok about the experience of being a furry at school. contact the editor here. "At a recent school board meeting, it was revealed that a Michigan school placed a LITTER BOXES in the bathroom for students that identify as cats," user Jovan Pulitzer captioned the video in the Facebook post. Brainwashed School Kids Now Identifying as Animal "Furries" by Alex Newman February 4, 2022 FreedomProject Media As if identifying as newly invented "genders" was not outlandish enough,. This is what we're doing now in 2022. "Let me be clear there is no truth whatsoever tothis false statement/accusation! If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Proof would be a letter home to parents, a notice on a district website, a copy of a school policy, that sort of thing. Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks, Fact Check-Photographs do not show a U.S. student who wanted to identify as a cat, Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats, Fact check: Wisconsin school district debunks claim that it has a 'furry protocol', 20-Year-Old Woman Claims She Is A Cat Born In The Wrong Body, Born in the wrong species // Fdt i feil art, 'I was born in the wrong species': Woman who says she's a CAT trapped in a human body hisses at dogs, hates water and claims she can even see better at night. The world continues to spiral down into the seemingly bottomless pit of insanity, as Bristol University issues official guidelines for staff in the correct use of pronouns for those who identify as "catgender," reports the Daily Mail. This is a cat-focused blog, so my interest here is the idea that cats have been dragged into the ongoing American culture wars. Nebraska Lawmaker Apologizes for Debunked Litter Box Claim. NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/nebraska-lawmaker-apologizes-debunked-litter-box-claim-rcna21951. Cisgender refers to individuals who identify with the gender assigned to them at birth. The litter boxes in schools hoax (also called the litter box canard) is a false rumor alleging that certain North American schools provide litter boxes in bathrooms for students who "identify as cats", or who participate in the furry or otherkin subcultures. students identifying as cats In a word, Sharrow told community members that if it sounds too wacky to be true, it probably is. A video of Wisconsin talk radio host Vicki McKenna's appearance on the Dr. Duke Show, a podcast hosted by Dr. Duke Pesta, racked up more than 100,000 views as it circulated on social media: There's no truth to this rumor. Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who arent really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. Fact check: False claim about Boston Children's Hospital's transgender care program. Brogan, Dylan. Kymera, 14, of Colorado, said being a furry is just a hobby, akin to being a mascot. The Meade County School district is dealing with an unusual situation: a group of high school students is attending school acting like and dressing as cats.The superintendent tells WLKY the situation is being addressed, but according to a concerned grandparent, its an ongoing problem that has many students on edge. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 2022. ' she said in the TikTok video. But this story is real. 2022. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Because weve gone insane as a society, of course, and basic reality now means different things to different people depending on their political ideologies. The photos show aNorweigan woman who was the subject of multiple media reports in 2016 when she claimed to be a cat trapped in a human's body. Cant even google interprete for you. As for this particular subject, I have thoroughly looked into the viral stories about schools accommodating students who identify as cats, and theyve all turned out to be rumors or hoaxes. AM 1380 / 99.9 FM WNRI. However, by constantly celebrating their decisions as brave, holding parades, allowing them to compete in sporting events with biological women, naming them women of the year, or even acknowledging gender identity as something more than junk science, society merely reinforces disturbing behaviors. That same month, school board candidates in Arkansas and Tennessee made similar remarks, and Jennifer Benson, a school board member in Fargo, North Dakota, told a local news outlet children were wearing leashes to school and using litter boxes. The woman went on to say that if she did not follow through with their request then she would essentially be let go. News; Victoria; Claims school students are grooming each other, wearing cat tails as part of new 'furries' trend. Im just embarrassed by what this has gotten to," she said. 2022, https://isthmus.com/api/content/5442e938-b445-11ec-8e34-12274efc5439/. USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment. Hansen noted the rumor warranted "more investigation" and did not make a claim about who had installed the litter boxes. The grandmother said a petition to end the practice was created by students and has more than 1,000 signatures. hurricane shannon 1936. . Even more disturbing is the fact that the private school she attends is willing to acknowledge her feline self-identification and permits her to act like a cat in school so long as her behavior doesnt disrupt the class, according to the Herald Sun. Her campaign declined to answer questions about Ganahls claims, but in one interview with a local Fox affiliate, she suggested theres a lot of this going on in Jefferson County. WATCH LIVE: Merrick Garland testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee. False rumors about litter boxes in classrooms have gained momentum in recent months. Send comments, questions and tips to her atnpate@statesmanjournal.comor 503-399-6745. Fact Check: Was Teacher Fired for Not Meowing Back at Student Who Identifies as Cat? Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2022, https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-was-teacher-fired-not-meowing-back-student-who-identifies-cat-1672597. Psychologists say furries arent the deviants theyre sometimes represented to be. "This is still a problem. The trend toward acting like a cat or dog is real, even if the Midland school litter box is the hoax du jour. Similar "if we allow this, what's next?" Thank you for supporting our journalism. Local advocates want to shut down that line of thinking. Seriously, Parents are allowing their kids to think they are cats! Surveys and pre-publication research from Furscience also indicate that the vast majority are LGBTQ and as many as a third are transgender. Under a new state diversity policy, students may inform schools of how they identify and what pronouns to be used. USA TODAY reached out to Hansen for comment. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The Meade County School district is dealing with an unusual situation: a group of high school students is attending school acting like and dressing as cats. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. NBC News found one example of a school district keeping cat litter on campuses for students to use but it had nothing to do with accommodating children who identify as animals. Be supportive of students who share their differences. Lastly, the superintendent of the school district has dismissed the rumors as misinformation. Interestingly, Pesta follows the slide about "furry protocols" with another false rumor about a teacher being fired for protesting against the installation of litterboxes at schools in Michigan for students who identified as cats. TikToks are going viral of school students claiming to identify as animals . Six Republican members of the North Dakota Legislature introduced a bill Wednesday that would send a clear message to nonhuman-identified students . These situations have been addressed consistently by administration and the dress code policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity. Its only used to kind of sensationalize untruth, and to harm our community, in particular our transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive youth, said Nadine Bridges, executive director of One Colorado, an LGBTQ rights organization, when asked about the litter box rumors. "The students are told they cant wear hats or Budweiser shirts in school, but they can wear cat ears, cat tails, masks, leashes. Accessed 5 Apr. In January 2022, for example, unfounded rumors were circulated on social media claiming that a school in Michigan had installed litter boxes in order to appease students who had started identifying as cats. Some say litter boxes are located in transgender bathrooms in schools. Independent TV. Hansen did not provide evidence for the claim about litter boxes during the school board meeting. The New York Times, USA TODAY, Politifact, Reuters and Snopes, among other publications, wrote articles confirming the claims were unfounded. And no, one seems to want to stop this and instead encourage it in their schools. The enabling of this behavior is halping people with legitimate mental health issues get applause instead of the medical help they truly need. But thats beyond the scope of this blog, which is to celebrate cats, have a laugh and occasionally put the spotlight on animal welfare. In an email sent to parents, staff and community members on Jan. 20, Midland Public SchoolsSuperintendent Michael Sharrowdenied the claim that "litter boxes were provided within MPS student restrooms for those who identify themselves as 'furries.'" These people will hiss at you or scratch at you if they dont like something youre doing.". "Sadly, the spread of hateful disinformation targeting queer and trans folks is nothing new, and these tactics make our schools and communities less safe," they said. In April, three Republican lawmakers in Minnesota took turns during floor debate discussing rumors theyd heard about children identifying as cats at school, cutting holes in uniforms for tails and possibly using litter boxes. Within a few months, similar rumors began to spread in the U.S., where they quickly became culture war fodder. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer: Claims of litter boxes in school restrooms are false. These rumors put us at risk of being hurt or bullied.. Many commenters who watched the video took the claim seriously. In Colorado, GOP gubernatorial nominee Heidi Ganahl insisted in several recent interviews that students were dressing and identifying as cats, disrupting class, and the states schools were tolerating it. "The Oregon Department of Education has had trans-inclusive policies in place for years now, and no harm has come to cisgender or transgender students as a result of those policies," Stenvick said. A private school in Australia is reportedly supporting a young "non-verbal" student identifying as a cat. Opponents said they believed the main purpose of the book was "to promote various agendas" related to the LGBTQ community in an attempt to "make it more acceptable in the mainstream. 2022. Roberts, an associate professor at Renison University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo in Canada, said that nearly all furries maintain distinct human personas and do not identify as animals. The wave of misinformation reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity are rapidly shifting. "She said its not a new problem. The post quickly went viral, racking up nearly 860,000 video views on Twitter. This is the world we live in today, and this is the danger created by normalizing transgender delusions in young students who may get over it. Michigan Republican Party, archived Jan. 24. room for rent in reykjavik long term. She covers misinformation, extremism and the internet. "This is a young lady who is exceptional (sic) bright, her family petitioned the school board for right to 'identify as a cat," reads part of a Sept. 23 Facebook post featuring the images. On Facebook, public posts show variations of the claim popping up throughout the country every day, citing unnamed grandchildren or neighbors, from Florida to California. Regarding the Norwegian woman, that one startled me as I have a cat named Nano. How were you or your family members conceived?! At an October Midland school board meeting, an eighth grader said she was confused, as a student, why kids are walking around acting like cats and dogs., Speaking at about the 1:30-minute mark, she described a student who walked around the school with a long cat tail, cat ears and "little bells that jingled everywhere she went.". Catalina Lauf, a Republican congressional nominee in Illinois, tweeted this month that schoolchildren were using litter boxes in her state. And it has not stopped some politicians from picking up these claims and using them to alarm people by saying that this is where protections for LGBTQ students will lead. USA TODAY reached out to Maddock and others who shared theclaim on social media for comment. The Waunakee Community School District does not have protocols for furries, nor do we have an issue with disruptions in our school and classrooms.. Im staying calm, but Im not happy about it, and its happened on your watch, and I dont understand it., Heres the video: (It should start at the relevant section, but if it doesnt, Hansen speaks at the 32:44 mark). Libs of TikTok noted as much in a subsequent tweet, but questioned why no one said so at the school board meeting, where some people applauded after Hansen spoke. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. The source of the claim was a parent at a Midland County School Board meeting who said she had "heard" that this had occurred in one local school, but she did not provide evidence. The story was picked up by several widely-read sites, included in Tucker Carlsons daily newsletter, and reshared on prominent Twitter accounts in addition to going viral on Facebook. The photos are from 2016 and show a Norweigan adult who is capable of speaking, not a non-verbal, school-aged child. A Midland, Michigan, middle school student told the school board last fall some of her classmates identify as cats and dogs. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. The post has been shared more than 300 times and garnered receptions of both hilarity and condemnation. The "furry protocol" rumor is the newest wrinkle in a series of false claims concerning absurd behavior in schools. Since many "furries", "therians", and "otherkins" often identify as non-heterosexual, this may be a good way for them to know that you are open to seeing all students. Furscience, the public face of a team of researchers who study the subculture. Any cats involved? Beyond Republican politicians and officials, plenty of social media users have latched onto the rumor, most notably on Facebook and TikTok. Many parents and teachers have confided in me privately about the madness thats happening pertaining to this trend, Lauf told NBC News in an email. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools.. Victoria Education; Claims school students are grooming each other, wearing cat tails as part of new 'furries' trend. "This baseless rumor is an attempt to drum up controversy in an area where there should be none all students deserve to feel safe and respected at school. It doesnt make sense," she added. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I get to the third row and I hear this meow! Uhhh, excuse me? MIDLAND, MI As the culture wars around gender identity ramp up, a school superintendent in central Michigan found it necessary to make a statement on social media that students who identify as cats wont have to use litter boxes. 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