Recently, an Oklahoma lawmaker introduced an absolutely absurd bill to ban “furries” in schools. After being picked up by many news outlets, it has spread out of its state and across America, upsetting many who claim the label of Furry.
On January 16th, 2024, House Bill 3084 was proposed by Rep. Justin Humphrey that targets students who "purport to be an imaginary animal or animal species, or who engage in anthropomorphic behavior commonly referred to as 'furries'."
According to this bill, students that match the criteria would be banned from any school curriculum for the day and have their guardian called to pick them up or even animal control services to remove them. If passed, this would go into action by November 1st, 2024.
Well what exactly is a furry? Furries are defined as “people who have an active interest in animal characters with human characteristics,” otherwise known as anthropomorphic animals.
Notice how the definition states ‘people’ not ‘those who identify as an animal.’ The most common stigma or misconception about furries is this exact thing. ‘Furry’ is a label humans, who know they are humans, give themselves based on a hobby.
The furry fandom is about creativity, world-building, and self discovery. Furries draw, sew, dance, create, and inspire others. It is a hobby, which brings no harm to anyone in the slightest.
This is where the lawmaker is mistaken. Other than the obvious personal biases, it is simply misinformation and minority targeting. It is harmful to kid expression and brings fear to minors who identify with this label when they should feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment.
The furry fandom is already, arguably, the most misunderstood community based on what the media has portrayed them to be: zoophiles and mentally-ill creeps. Both things which are completely untrue.
The furry community identifies themselves as the most accepting community. Members of the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, any job or background, and much more are welcomed with open arms.
Furries have left an unappreciated mark on the world and people still won’t recognize it. There have been furries who went to space (MeepsKitten, real name Cameron Bess), furries who helped with the covid vaccine (Chise), saving lives! Even furries who are a part of NASA, or who have boycotted illegitimate companies.
Furry @Scribbled_Mutt on TikTok made an excellent point in their video covering the topic. He states “No, I don’t identify as an animal, I’m a straight up dude. I am a guy, I was born a guy, I will always be a guy. If you’re transgender it's cool, but if you identify as an animal, you’re – weird.”
Coming from furries themselves, they know they are not animals. Even if they dress as one, it’s a character. It’s like people who dress up as their favorite movie character or anime character. It’s a hobby, it’s people who like to make their own personal anthropomorphic animals, whether they draw them, make a costume for them, roleplay as them, it has caused no harm to others. Anyways, most furries specifically say they don’t dress up in costume for school, so whoever this bill is targeting, it is certainly not them.
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