Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A hearing of a Tennessee Legislature Committee has surpassed thousands of views online, where two state lawmakers report that their constituents say that there are children in Tennessee identifying as “furries” being allowed to use the restroom in litter boxes at school.
No proof was provided or asked for in the meeting, but all agreed it was a worrying trend.
Representative Mary Littleton (R-Dickson) of the Charter School Commission asked, “I just have one quick (question), do charter schools allow furries to come as furries to class, which is children identifying as cats or dogs?”
Senator Janice Bowling (R- Tullahoma) followed the question with more concerns after the question was answered that they do not allow that.
“Unfortunately, I’m hearing this in my rural districts where maybe schools are not fully disclosing that they are allowing children who identify as snakes, cats, whatever, they are providing litter boxes,” Bowling said. “So, I thank you Rep. Littleton for addressing this growing crisis.”
Researchers who have focused on studying the furry fandom said these rumors have been occurring over the past decade, but there has been an increase in the spread this past year.
An associate professor at Bishop’s University Courtney Plante said, “The idea of little kids identifying as furries, this doesn’t seem to happen with regularity.”
Plante and his research partner Sharon Roberts, who is an associate professor at the University of Waterloo, experts in fandoms, have interviewed tens of thousands of people in the past decade who identify as furries around the world.
Roberts told WKRN, “The idea that furries are asking for treatment because they identify as these animals is simply not supported with research.”
The Tennessee Department of Education did not respond to emails asking if the children identifying as furries are being given special accommodation in schools.
The claims reached an East Tennessee school district earlier this year, in April. In response, the Hawkins County School District posted declaring these claims were “rumors” and a “ridiculous notion.”
According to WKRN, other states have had these concerns and have also been debunked.
Bowling states in the meeting that she hopes “there is a reawakening in our Department of Education.”
Plante and Roberts claim that there are many misconceptions about the furry community. “There is this belief that if you are a furry you are a person who thinks you are an animal which is not correct,” Plante said, “That makes as much sense as saying if you wear a football jersey you think you are Tom Brady.”
“About a third of furries occasionally put on a costume to dress up as a character, but the fact that they think they are a non-human animal is not what makes you a furry.”
The Tennessee Department of Education was contacted by News 2 for comment. The department issued the following statement:
“The department receives frequent communication from school districts and parents with questions and requests for guidance and technical assistance. The topics cover a broad ranges of issues from student discipline to cheerleader tryouts and everything in between. The department has not received communication from parents or school districts on this topic.”
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
20 Responses
If these messed up in the head children want to act like animals let the use the rest room OUTSIDE in the bushes like a animal or get them mental health or maybe yet a good BELT!! It is ashamed society has gone to this level of stupidity.
Amen Doug.
What is a shame is that stupid people fall for this hoax and then go repeating it in public while they are elected leaders… more embarrassment for the state of Tennessee from these idiots. And you fell for it, too, Doug? Come on people, use your *$& brains.
This doesn’t exist, it just proves ignorant people will believe anything.
This is not happening, especially not in schools, stop believing in stupid people.
A teacher or parent who allows this needs to arrested for child abuse!
I believe that for sure Tim.
Since its not happening, sure Tom, keep living in your fantasy land.
Can we please get these retarded old people out of office so we can fix the problems
They are allowing this to happen at Walker valley high school in Cleveland TN. My friends son goes there and comes home complaining about the furries almost on a daily basis. The teachers are allowing it and practically encouraging it.
You believe this? I think you may be, to put it politely, embellishing a bit. This is not a “thing” and it is crazy that our elected leaders spread this kind of nonsense. Grow up, folks.
I find it amazing that you are making that up, yes you are making that up, that does not exist, never has, and you have the gaul to claim it is happening in a high school, really. Is that all you people have to do, is make up conspiracy lies to push your ignorant agenda?
That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. My son goes to Walker Valley. I volunteer at Walker Valley and neither one of us have seen this nor experienced it. If you have no affiliation with the community you need to not comment on something you know nothing about. Unless you have seen this first hand you need not repeat it. Have you never played the game Gossip? We played this game to teach us how things can been twisted and changed. For someone reason people have lost all sense of reasoning and just follow any rabbit hole that supports their fear.
This line should have told you poor people all you needed to know:
“No proof was provided or asked for in the meeting, but all agreed it was a worrying trend. ”
This is a BS story being spread by BS’ers for the sole purpose of duping people into voting for Republicans—and another reason Tennessee Conservatives are almost as much of a laughingstock as those in Texas and Florida. Wake up, people.
This is no crazier that a boy who thinks he can become a girl and adults who support it!! And the legislators talking about this with no proof are almost as bad! These people really don’t have more to do that’s important!??
Unfortunately we live in a world were people can no longer differentiate between fantasy or reality. People can no longer speak the truth for example; when a child or adult says that they are a cat or any other thing. If you say no you are not, you are human being. You will be given some kind of label that ends in phobic. The problem is that God has turned these people over to reprobate minds. We live in a society that has no moral compass and were good is evil and evil is good. We as society need to get back to our moral compass and say no to this idiotic nonsense. Any school that allows litter boxes or any other thing to do a bodily function should be shutdown PERIOD. I agree with the comment from the man that says “let them go outside”. I would add one other thing to that. Give them a bag. When they do go out, so they can clean up after themselves. I do have a question. Who is going to clean out the litter box? If I were the custodian that’s were I would draw the line. Definitely not cleaning that out.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
This would be great if any of it was true. The sad thing is God has been used for years to promote fear but if you really know God fear does not come from God. Also, God said our fight is not with flesh and bone but principalities and the ruler of darkness. Satan wins every time when we are at war and hate each other. Even the furries, transgenders and drag queens. We forget that Jesus was crucified for ALL our sins and he was convicted because he was with the sinners. So instead of continuing the division why don’t you show God’s love. How will they ever know him if they can’t see him within you?
IF this is real, I agree. Animals aren’t allowed in school. Parents/ owners need to higher animal trainers for their Furries’ education.
This would be great if any of it was true. The sad thing is God has been used for years to promote fear but if you really know God fear does not come from God. Also, God said our fight is not with flesh and bone but principalities and the ruler of darkness. Satan wins every time when we are at war and hate each other. Even the furries, transgenders and drag queens. We forget that Jesus was crucified for ALL our sins and he was convicted because he was with the sinners. So instead of continuing the division why don’t you show God’s love. How will they ever know him if they can’t see him within you?
Leave the litter box out of this if it isn’t true but tell people the truth about students in Tennessee schools identifying as furries! Parents have the right to know if this is being allowed in their child’s school.. Just tell the truth!!