Seriously, Parents are allowing their kids to think they are cats! The claim: Photos show non-verbal student whose cat identity is accommodated at public school Some social media users are sharing a photo they claim shows a student who identifies as a cat.. "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. But as of right now, I have not been able to verify a single one of the claims. The woman went on to say that if she did not follow through with their request then she would essentially be let go. Yet her intelligence level doesnt change the fact that mental health issues require treatment, not derision. USA Today, "Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats," Jan. 30, 2022. Accessed 5 Apr. Rumors began to surface that these students were permitted to use litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate them, but the districts superintendent debunked such stories. I read that a comedian joked how he asks to be regarded with the possessive pronoun there, because he identifies as a place. Under a new state diversity policy, students may inform schools of how they identify and what pronouns to be used. "Apparently, from what I understand, theyre called 'furries,'" the grandmother, who asked to remain anonymous, told WLKY. Some who have believed the false rumors continue to cite them as an example of school districts going too far with so-called identity politics, drawing a connection between the litter box claims to schools allowing transgender students to use the restroom of their choice. Sir David Cattenboroughs Newest Documentary Reveals The Elusive Silver-FurredBuddy, Check Out This Beautiful Gallery Of Larry The Cat, PLUS: A New Game Features A FuriousFeline, Cat With Gang Tattoos Rescued From Mexican Prison, Up ForAdoption, Buddy Scores 47 In Knicks Route OfCeltics. Yesterday I heard something, and I was stunned, and today I am equally stunned and a little bit upset. I have two grandkids in school and my grandkids didnt want to go to school anymore," she said. 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. Woman who thinks she's a cat trapped in a human body 'hisses at dogs' and has tried to catch mice. No wonder they get confused, self conscious, low self esteem, and a lot more negative issues. "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. If they feel they are cats, they should stay home, get a liscense and a rabies shot and use their back yard or litter box. "It's sad were at a point in our culture that a rumor like this even needs to be addressed," said Blair Stenvick, the communications manager for the Portland-based nonprofit Basic Rights Oregon. One student was apparently disciplined for pulling on the tail of one of the cat identifying students who was seen hissing at students in the cafeteria. A girl identifies as a cat, and both her parents and her private school are totes okay with it. Accessed 5 Apr. One post calling for school districts to take action has been shared more than 31,000 times. If youre on the right, youre might argue that some schools have gone so overboard with political correctness, its not a stretch to imagine privileges conferred on the allegedly cat-identified. The schools superintendent, Michael Sharrow, was forced to do damage control with a public statement, telling parents its a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you., There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation, Sharrow wrote. 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. She said when she has worn part of her fur suit to school, I dont act like an animal, or think that I am one.. "Furries" roleplay as anthropomorphized animal characters. "They identify with animals. oh, dont forget to stock up on cat food as human food isnt really good for them. Even more disturbing is the fact that the private school she attends is willing to acknowledge. Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks. Psychologists say furries arent the deviants theyre sometimes represented to be. Local advocates want to shut down that line of thinking. In an episode of Spotifys The Joe Rogan Experience podcast this week, host Joe Rogan told former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard that a litter box was installed in a school that his friends wife worked at for a girl who identifies as an animal. A clip of the discussion quickly began to circulate on social media. There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! [Doctors] dont have evidence that [the treatment] will be the right one, McHugh said in 2019. students identifying as cats. child/dog. In an Oct. 19, 2021, Facebook post, the Public Schools Branch of Prince Edward Island said that for several months it had fielded calls, been sent emails and been pointed to numerous social media posts that make broad sweeping assertions regarding students who identify as cats. The rise of the litter box rumor shows the power of false claims that start on social media to shape political discourse. The "furry protocol" rumor is the newest wrinkle in a series of false claims concerning absurd behavior in schools. Follow her on Twitter@NataliePateGwin. A teenage girl from Melbourne, Australia, identifies as a cat, according to multiple news stories. I heard that at least one of our schools in our town has a, in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats. "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. Hananoki, Eric. "It is ok to pretend to be a cat or dog in your private time, but the world and work force should not be forced to play along," one said. 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. "Unbelievable.". It started when a video of a central Michigan school board meetingwent viral in mid-January after aparent claimed a"nefarious" agendahad taken hold of public schools in her county. Thats hearsay. They should not be allowed to attend school as school is meant for humans. Urban decay: There's a reason criminals love Los Angeles's district attorney, Student borrowers advocate Biden debt relief program amid Supreme Court battle, Trump and DeSantis attend dueling Republican conferences as GOP primary field heats up, China will target the US homeland in war over Taiwan, Army leader predicts, Users recoil at new iPhone feature that slows charging when clean energy isn't used. The Waunakee Community School District does not have protocols for furries, nor do we have an issue with disruptions in our school and classrooms.. But thats beyond the scope of this blog, which is to celebrate cats, have a laugh and occasionally put the spotlight on animal welfare. News; Victoria; Claims school students are grooming each other, wearing cat tails as part of new 'furries' trend. This is true in many states including the one in which I live (Tennessee). Furthermore, there's no evidence that any schools in Michigan installed litterboxes for their students. Meet Nano, the woman who thinks she is a cat. Any cats involved? It is long past time to start rejecting this nonsense. It doesnt make sense," she added. A source . 2022, https://isthmus.com/api/content/5442e938-b445-11ec-8e34-12274efc5439/. Meanwhile on TikTok, one video claiming kids are now requesting litter boxes at school collected 3 million views on the platform. The woman says she was born the wrong species. My psychologist told me I can grow out of it, but I doubt it, she told an interviewer. "The students are told they cant wear hats or Budweiser shirts in school, but they can wear cat ears, cat tails, masks, leashes. The rumor about litter boxes gained enough traction that it was even mentioned during a March 2022 debate between state lawmakers in Nebraska. Do your research. Some say litter boxes are located in transgender bathrooms in schools. "It could lead to a life of pornography addiction and deviant behavior. However, a spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council told The National: There are no cats and no pupils identifying as cats at Banff Academy.. 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. In the latest "trend" by high school students, they're dressing up and acting like cats in schools. email: John@depetro.com. We have excellent schools here. This site is about cats, and I want everyone who loves cats to feel welcome here. This whole furry thing has just got me. Across the country, from New York to Iowa and Texas, the same rumor swept through districts this spring. Sorry, not a known recognizable language. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF2k85dOs_Y. A Wisconsin school district has a set of "furry protocols" that allows students to identify as cats. Happy birthday to Nano, and hopefully hell have many more! Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Lisa Hansen asked other parents to join her to do some investigating into the policy, Im all for creativity and imagination, but when someone lives in a fantasy world and expects other people to go along with it, I have a problem with that, Hansen told the Midland school board. I didnt realize theyre still making new episodes of Family Guy. students identifying as cats Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter for NBC News, based in Los Angeles. IE 11 is not supported. It has even been parroted by former QAnon supporter and Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene. 2022, https://www.poynter.org/tfcn/2022/no-furries-dont-get-litter-boxes-in-school-bathrooms/. Rogan did not name the school, and his publicist did not respond to a request for comment. Fact check: False claim about Boston Children's Hospital's transgender care program. 2022. The photos show a young woman wearing costume cat ears. North Kingstown Councilwoman Mary Brimer sounded the alarm after hearing stories from parents of the school installing litter boxes at a school in a special section hidden from view. "I was hearing rumblings of this last year, but it really got bad when they went back to school this year. "It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.". 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. "I heard that at least one of our schools, in our town, has, in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats I am really upset, as a parent, that my child is put in an environment like that.". 2022. I dont take a political position and will not, as its important for all cat lovers to feel comfortable reading the site and participating in discussions. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Identifying as human isn't good enough anymore, so now some must cross species to identify as a cat to gain attention. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. This event was sponsored by No Left Turn In Education, a group Media Matters describes as an anti-critical race theory group, and presented by the FreedomProject Academy, an online academy founded by the right-wing political advocacy group the John Birch Society. The buckets also contain candy for diabetic students, a map of the school, flashlights, wet wipes and first aid items. USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment. Excuse me? 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. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. The #1 Way To Support This Channel Is Backing Me On SubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.com/thequarteringBecome A Youtube Member! A TikTok user in a video that has gone viral claimed falsely that she was fired from a school after failing to respect a student's decision to identify as a cat. Since insurance wont cover vet visits, and I doubt most vets want to participate in the Im a cat delusion, Im thinking their options are limited to doctors. Occams Razor would indicate she was just chasing clicks. "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. Everyone should be sympathetic to her plight, but people should not be enabling her delusions. 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). contact the editor here. The superintendent at the school in Kentucky told WLWT the students violated the dress code, and that the administration had addressed the situation. Did a Michigan School District Install Litter Boxes in Bathrooms? Snopes.Com, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/litter-boxes-bathrooms/. No teachers have come forward to talk about the supposed protocols, and no students or parents have corroborated any of these claims. Three school-age furries told NBC News they have at times dressed up at school, typically wearing just part of their full costume such as a mask or gloves that look like paws, but theyd never heard of any furry ever asking for a litter box. Having said that, I can picture Family Guy creating much fanfare with this fictional student-cat-identity and substitute-teacher-noncompliance story. "Let me be clear there is no truth whatsoever tothis false statement/accusation! The claim that the Waunakee school district had implemented furry protocols appears to have originated with an email sent to Pesta. At least 20 conservative candidates and elected officials have claimed this year that K-12 schools are placing litter boxes on campus or making other accommodations for students who identify as cats, according to an NBC News review of public statements. Will Democrats and Big Tech ever apologize? They meow and they bark and they interact with their teachers in this fashion, Bostelman said during legislative debate. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. The school districts saythese claims are untrue. "The grandmother is urging parents and family members to attend the Meade County School Board meeting on Sept. 14 to request further action. 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. If youre on the left, you might think parents who arent sophisticated news consumers are so paranoid about school curricula, theyd believe just about anything. Last month, Brendan Shea, a Republican and member of the Ohio State Board of Education, introduced a resolution to oppose civil rights protections for LGBTQ students. Two curious stories relating to cats have been circulating online this week: In the first story, a substitute teacher claims she was fired because she refused to meow back to a student who "identifies as a cat," while parents in a Michigan school district were infuriated by a rumor that the district was providing litter boxes to cat-identified A Michigan school superintendent debunked the rumor after a video from a December school board meeting resurfaced in which a speaker airs concerns about students who "identify as cats." Lisa. Nonbinary is when someone does not identify as either male or female. 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. Oh, you are a human? Additionally, this summer, a group of parents and community members unsuccessfully pushedfor the removal of "Gender Queer: A Memoir," a graphic novel by Maia Kobabe that discusses topics such as asexuality and being nonbinary, from Salem-Keizer high school libraries. She did not elaborate on what happened afterward but . Some things in life, like cats, are too good to be muddied by Americas toxic ideological wars. The photos show a Norweigan adult who claimed to be acat in 2016. We parents arent sure what our schools are up to, she wrote in an email, according to the Times. 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.". 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. The false claim that children who identify as cats are using litter boxes in school bathrooms has spread across the internet since at least December, when a member of the public brought it up. But this post tells a story that simply didn't happen. By Anthony Brian Logan (ABL) January 24, 2022. As he stated in his message, the board meeting took place on Dec. 20, 2021, and did not circulate widely until mid-January. Similar "if we allow this, what's next?" Call in 401-766-1380.John DePetro The Independent Man. He later told a local newspaper he didnt verify the claim was true, and he did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News. 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. 5:55 Rumours about litter boxes in schools for students identifying as cats are false, Norbert Carpenter tells CBC News: Compass host Steve Bruce Litter boxes will not be put in schools on. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Despite Hubbard'sclaim that the person picturedis non-verbal, the woman can be heardspeakingin a 2016 Norweigan mediainterviewabout her identity. Sheryl, if you have the name of the school district, and you can show me proof in the form of a written school policy, and put me in touch with your teacher friend in Georgia who can give me verifiable details, Ill be happy to write another follow-up article. Good question! If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Thats the problem. North Kingstown is in the news again as a school is reportedly allowing two students to identify as cats this school year complete with providing a litter box. LGBTQ2SIA+ is the acronym used by Basic Rights Oregon and other advocacy groups to describe those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, two-spirit, intersexual, asexual and/or other varying genders and sexualities. A Midland, Michigan, middle school student told the school board last fall some of her classmates identify as cats and dogs. forbidding transgender students from using the bathroom of their acquired gender. A SCOTTISH secondary school has had to deny reports that some of its pupils were identifying as cats and defecating on the floor after school officials refused to provide a litterbox. Editors' Code of Practice. But according to Superintendent Mark Martin, a petition isnt needed. Some politicians issued warnings about children acting as cats during debates regarding school policies related to transgender and nonbinary youth. How were you or your family members conceived?! Regardless of what you have or have not heard about furries, it might surprise you to learn that there is a team of researchers who have devoted their careers to studying this fandom, Hal Herzog wrote for Psychology Todays Animals and Us column in 2017. Brogan, Dylan. 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. Dayna, 15, who lives in Canada, said she brings a mask and tail to school every day but only wears them during lunch and keeps them in her bag during class. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. On the October 11 episode of his Joe Rogan Experience Spotify podcast, Rogan claimed that a school "had to install a litter box in the girls room because there is a girl who's a furry, who . The claim that a Wisconsin school district implemented furry protocols in order to deal with a wave of students identifying as cats is based almost entirely on one alleged email said to have been sent from a third-party (an anonymous student's grandmother) to a podcast host. Send comments, questions and tips to her atnpate@statesmanjournal.comor 503-399-6745. Website development by. Ben Collins covers disinformation, extremism and the internet for NBC News. There are websites that claim there is a catgender movement, but that is a different thing. The New York Times, USA TODAY, Politifact, Reuters and Snopes, among other publications, wrote articles confirming the claims were unfounded. Not So, Says School Official, Midland Public Schools December 2021 Board of Education Meeting, Students identifying as furries using litter boxes? (LogOut/ Hansens claims were picked up and reshared by a state GOP chairwoman, Meshawn Maddock, who warned Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools in a Facebook post. Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican Iowa state senator, said at a forum in May that local schools had been required to put cat litter boxes in the bathroom for furries to use, as he discussed schools that allow transgender students to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity. AM 1380 / 99.9 FM WNRI. Rumors claiming schools are putting litter boxes in restrooms for students who identify as cats have spread across the United States this year, and have now reached Salem. Whos doing it? And this little girl in the very front row says, You have to meow back at him; he identifies as a cat. Are you kidding me?, The student stormed out of the classroom when she laughed at him, she said, and the schools administration fired her: They said We no longer need your services if you cant identify with all the children in the classroom.'. At least 20 Republican politicians have claimed that schools are making accommodations for students who identify as cats. At least 20 conservative candidates and elected officials have claimed this year that K-12 schools are placing litter boxes on campus or making other accommodations for students who identify as cats, in fact every school district that has been named by those 20 politicians said in public statements that these claims are untrue. As he argued for the resolution in a public meeting, Shea said, Weve literally got kids who think theyre cats and dogs using litter boxes in classrooms. Shea did not respond to requests for comment. I was told by a teacher friend in Georgia that this is true in her state as well. Inthe Dec. 21, 2021, YouTube video, which now has more than 91,000 views, a woman said during the Midland Public Schools board meeting that she was told there wasa litter box in the bathroom of at least one local school for students who self-identify as cat "furries" people who adopt and identify with an anthropomorphized animal persona, often within online or local communities of furries. As the number of people identifying as trans and nonbinary has increased in recent years, particularly among young people, so has the amount of anti-LGBTQ legislation from conservative politicians. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. As usual, left-wing ideologues have created larger societal problems by refusing to address the main issue. She covers misinformation, extremism and the internet. The next day, the popular conservative Twitter account Libs of TikTok tweeted the video of Hansen at the school board meeting. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. A reaction from another user calling for schools to stop admitting furries to schools brought in over 1 million views. HP10 9TY. I have never once heard a furry say they want to use a litter box, Kymera said. Kentucky school district: Students are dressing and acting like cats. You want to communicate by meowing? The trend isnt new, but has recently been popularized on social media. 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. 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.

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