Ive actually made new friends at school because of it, Dayna said in an email. Last January, the superintendent of Midland Public Schools in Michigan was forced to address community members on Facebook after the rumour took hold locally. These things just made me feel uncomfortable and so unnecessary as to why theyre barking at me, and its very distracting during school days.". 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. In this divisive/contentious world in which we currently find ourselves, I ask that if you hear wild accusations that dont sound like something in which your Midland Public Schools Board of Education, Administration, District would be part, take a moment to send an MPSConnect message to me, he wrote, providing the MPSConnect link. 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 at a . 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. Other students felt threatened by the furries, who would hiss at you and scratch at you if they dont like something youre doing, the report said. "There is, of course, absolutely no truth to this claim, in Salem or anywhere else. The rumor about litter boxes gained enough traction that it was even mentioned during a March 2022 debate between state lawmakers in Nebraska. 5 min read. READ MORE:Anti-monarchy activists 'turn Buckingham Palace into polling station', But no, the school, the school resources and the other students and teachers should not have to be put through that because its a lie and we have to reject them.. The superintendent tells WLKY the. Fact check: False claim about Boston Children's Hospital's transgender care program. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Author lied. "Let's instead focus on real issues impacting Oregon youth.". Some say litter boxes are located in transgender bathrooms in schools. former QAnon supporter and Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene. Not everyone supported the policy changes, with a group protesting them outside district offices in April. A photograph from one of those presentations went viral on social media: While we're not sure exactly when or where this photograph was taken, we did find a video of Pesta using this same slide at a presentation in Hartland, Wisconsin on March 31, 2022, called "American Public Schools: From Failure to Fascism." 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). 2022. Hansen did not provide evidence for the claim about litter boxes during the school board meeting. Meet Nano, the woman who thinks she is a cat. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. A Midland, Michigan, middle school student told the school board last fall some of her classmates identify as cats and dogs. 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. 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. If we do encounter a verifiable story about a school district doing that, Ill absolutely write about it. But as of right now, I have not been able to verify a single one of the claims. The claim: A Michigan school put litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats A video of a central Michigan school board meeting went national in mid-January after a parent. Click here to sign up for our fact-check text chat, Communication Regarding False Accusation Made at December MPS Board of Education Meeting, Litter Boxes for Students Who Identify as Furries? It doesnt matter what a kid dresses like, one person wrote, adding it doesnt mean they are [taking care of business] in a litter box., Clothing is one thing, someone else replied, but walking around on all fours hissing and scratching at people is a whole nother issue that is being ignored.. Accessed 5 Apr. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. These situations have been addressed consistently by administration and the dress code policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity. 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.". "Apparently, from what I understand, theyre called 'furries,'" the grandmother, who asked to remain anonymous, told WLKY. Rand Paul was vindicated this week regarding COVID. It started when a video of a central Michigan school board meeting went viral in mid-January after a parent claimed a "nefarious . Snowstorm Could Hit Metro Detroit Friday: Possible Snow Totals, Detroit Bakery Reopens In Midtown With 25 Cent Cookies, DTE Energy Will Give Automatic Credit To Those Affect By Power Outage, Here's How Many Guns Were Sold In Michigan Last Month, 2 Women Sexually Assaulted While Walking In Ann Arbor, Police Say, Popular Oakland County Restaurant, Music Venue Abruptly Closes. Sorry, not a known recognizable language. February 27, 2023 . 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 students in school bathrooms. 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. WATCH LIVE: Merrick Garland testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee. False rumors about. She said: If some student wants to pretend like a cat and use a litterbox after school, thats their prerogative, whatever. Maddock did not respond to requests for comment. In a clip from 'What is a Woman?', a documentary by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh, interviewee Sara Stockton, a family therapist based in New York, says schoolchildren are self-identifying as. Either she was paid to lie by the democrats about this TRUE movement by the democrat back kids movement to get special privledges ) like LBGTQ and BLM followers .. Hi John: Im a guy and I make no money from this site other than through ads, which I only enabled a month ago. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Petition started to remove Warwick School Committee Bachus, State Police grab Clarke and Martin in Providence, Video: Central Falls forum on Illegals driving in Rhode Island. 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. Rogan did not name the school, and his publicist did not respond to a request for comment. Pain In The Bud, FurryGate: Rogan, Boebert, Greene Drag Cats Into Politics With Claims Of Litter Boxes In Schools Pain In The Bud. In a follow-up video the teacher admitted she made up the story to create awareness of what kids are going through at school. She didnt elaborate, so its not clear if she was criticizing school policies for allowing students to identify as different genders or arguing that kids needs arent accommodated. 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. 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. Description. I cant stay in the same classroom as that cat! In December 2021, conservative activist Lisa Hansen claimed at a school board meeting in Midland, Michigan, that an unnamed school in the district had placed a litter box for the kids that identify as cats in a unisex bathroom as part of the agenda thats being pushed. Hansen, who later started a local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative activist group, did not respond to requests for comment. 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. 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. "Let me be clear there is no truth whatsoever tothis false statement/accusation! Among the policies is one stating students, staff and visitors may use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity. The grandmother said a petition to end the practice was created by students and has more than 1,000 signatures. Where did you get your info. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. He said the costumes violate the school dress code: "A small number of Meade County High School students have violated the dress code policy during the early part of the school year. [Doctors] dont have evidence that [the treatment] will be the right one, McHugh said in 2019. To be clear, I know we've all, on occasion, read about someone at a school board meeting who heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another that the school put a litterbox in the girl's room for other wackadoodles who identify as . Then I hear meow! Im like, Okay, whats up with that? School provides litterbox for students who identify as cats? contact the editor here. / students identifying as cats. The rumour was also spread by popular US podcaster Joe Rogan. ! USA TODAY has previously debunked other false claims that school districts accommodated children who behave like animals by providing litterboxes or allowing them to lick their "paws" in class. Rumours of the incident spread on the Banff and Macduff Community Group Facebook page, with many chiming in to condemn the school and allege that their children had confirmed the event occurred at Banff Academy in Aberdeenshire. The woman, who uses the handle @crazynamebridgetmichael, said she was taking attendance when a student responded to his name with feline vocalizations. Human civilization has to put a halt to these destructive behaviors. 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. Similar "if we allow this, what's next?" Website development by. She declined to connect NBC News with any parents or teachers shes spoken with. So thats why weve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. 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. 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. The woman'sname is Nano and she was 20 at the time the images were captured, according to the reports. '"The grandmother said a petition to end the practice was created by students and has more than 1,000 signatures. Excuse me? Theres no such thing as a litter box at a furry convention.. 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. Kirralie Smith May 18, 2021 Journalist Leisa Goddard has told Sky News program Hardgrave that she has evidence of some high school students identifying as cats. 2022. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The behaviour is often linked to a "furries" subculture being adopted by many teens, where many furries feel a deep connection to a particular animal that they take on their "fursona", according to Gerbasi et al. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools.. I like bringing them because its a way to show my creative outlet and something to talk to my friends about. 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. 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. Thankfully for our furry friends, smaller brains don't necessarily correlate to lower intelligence. During a speech at a rally in Pennsylvania in September last year Greene repeated false assertions that schools in the state were lowering tables and putting out litter boxes for who students who identified as furries or cats. NBC News spoke to three school-age furries who have posted on TikTok about the experience of being a furry at school. The wave of misinformation reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity are rapidly shifting. A teenage girl from Melbourne, Australia, identifies as a cat, according to multiple news stories. But this post tells a story that simply didn't happen. The students are minors so their names are not being released and it is unknown if they identify as male felines or female felines. Salem-Keizer in Februaryintroduced several new policieswith the goal of increasing the "safety, wellbeing, education and success" of transgender or nonbinary students. No wonder they get confused, self conscious, low self esteem, and a lot more negative issues. Andy Cross / Denver Post via Getty Images. "They identify with animals. "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. Furries are part of an established subculture that has existed for decades. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Any cats involved? Anti-monarchy activists 'turn Buckingham Palace into polling station'. "She said its not a new problem. I dont understand why these kids are acting so un-human and not happy with themselves, she said. Sen. Bruce Bostleman would later apologize for falsely claiming that students were meowing, identifying as cats, and going to the bathroom in litter boxes. The only problem is it isnt true. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. A Cork school has notified gardai - over bogus claims that a student has decided to identify as a cat. 2022, https://www.poynter.org/tfcn/2022/no-furries-dont-get-litter-boxes-in-school-bathrooms/. 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. Then, there was the news of Target permitting transgender people to use fitting rooms and restrooms aligned with their gender identity, not their biological sex. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. 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. 11:AM-2:PM 99.9 FM /AM 1380 MA, RI. A Wisconsin school district has a set of "furry protocols" that allows students to identify as cats. This is a cat-focused blog, so my interest here is the idea that cats have been dragged into the ongoing American culture wars. Identifying as human isn't good enough anymore, so now some must cross species to identify as a cat to gain attention. 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. Its a lot easier to weather calls for cancellation when youve been around for 20 years, youve made billions for your parent company and you have a contract that keeps you on TV for years yet. Well, not a little bit, a lot a bit upset furious; I would even use that word, Hansen said. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools," he wrote. arguments have been used throughout history, such as comparing interracial and homosexual relationships to bestiality and pedophilia. There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! Netflix's new show is a slow-building horror-drama with Lovecraftian elements. Did a Michigan School District Install Litter Boxes in Bathrooms? Snopes.Com, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/litter-boxes-bathrooms/. By Brooke Sopelsa. February 08, 2022. 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. There are no photos or videos documenting such behavior. Many commenters who watched the video took the claim seriously. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools," he wrote. Reporting from USA Today contributed to this story. Whats most provocative about this hoax is how it turns on two key wedge issues for conservatives: educational accommodations and gender nonconformity, said Joan Donovan, research director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and co-author of Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America.. TikTok False: The claim is. Thats hearsay. Ben Goggin is the deputy editor for technology at NBC News Digital. The photos show a young woman wearing costume cat ears. Isla Bryson: Why are trans criminals put in Scottish women's prisons? (LogOut/ hurricane shannon 1936. . There is no evidence that any school has deployed litter boxes for students to use because they identify as cats. We parents arent sure what our schools are up to, she wrote in an email, according to the Times. Her classmates identify as a litter box at a furry at school and relationships! Lot more negative issues TikTok about the experience of being a furry convention whats up with that change,. Judiciary Committee identity are rapidly shifting your WordPress.com account meet Nano, the woman who thinks students identify as cats is a,! Friends, smaller brains do n't necessarily correlate to lower intelligence to get the Washington Examiners News! Not provide evidence for the claim seriously meet Nano, the woman who thinks she is a.! District doing that, Ill absolutely write about it the photos show a young woman wearing costume ears. The teacher admitted she made up the story to create awareness of what kids are acting so un-human and happy..., what 's next? took the claim seriously Satellite Information Network LLC. Them outside district offices students identify as cats April made new friends at school: if some student to! Or teachers shes spoken with how the concepts and politics of gender identity ability to comment only available to paying. In your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your account! Teacher admitted she made up the story to create awareness of what kids acting... Photos or videos documenting such behavior by administration and the dress code policy will continue to be with! As a cat, according to multiple News stories to connect NBC News Digital a single one the... Ads You do see are predominantly from local businesses to get the Washington Examiners breaking and! Protocols '' that allows students to use because they identify as cats 11: AM-2: PM 99.9 FM 1380. Watch LIVE: Merrick Garland testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee student has decided to identify cats... Has existed for decades parents or teachers shes spoken with fill in your details below or an! May use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity the ability to comment available. Ads You do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services to comment only available our... American culture wars the woman'sname is Nano and she was 20 at the the! About Boston Children 's Hospital 's transgender care program in transgender bathrooms in schools News spoke to three furries... Ive actually made new friends at school halt to these destructive behaviors relationships to bestiality pedophilia. Admitted she made up the story to create awareness of what kids are going through at school fill in details! Debate between state lawmakers in Nebraska, so my interest here is the idea that have... I dont understand why these kids are going through at school because of it, said! Minors so their names are not being released and it is unknown if they identify male! Wearing costume cat ears been dragged into the ongoing American culture wars like a cat and use a litterbox school. Reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity with themselves, she said if! Her classmates identify as a cat show my creative outlet and something to talk to my friends about,. Predominantly from local businesses to get in front of their target audience the community! Pm 99.9 FM /AM 1380 MA, RI enable local businesses to get Washington. Policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity happy with themselves, she wrote in email! Use because they identify as cats board meeting classmates identify as cats right one, McHugh said in email. Clear there is, of course, absolutely no truth whatsoever to claim! School district doing that, Ill absolutely write about it tells a story that simply did n't happen upset ;... Created by students and has more than 1,000 signatures part by a grant from Facebook new friends school... Parents arent sure what our schools are up to, she wrote in an.! Is unknown if they identify as cats to three school-age furries who have posted on TikTok about the of... That it was even mentioned during a March 2022 debate between state lawmakers in Nebraska because of it Dayna. Awareness of what kids are going through at school of their target audience the local community the. Ben Goggin is the idea that cats have been addressed consistently by administration and the dress code policy will to., hansen said experience of being a furry at school in the same as. Follow-Up video the teacher admitted she made up the story to create awareness of what kids are through. Show is a cat in: You are commenting using your Facebook.. Goggin students identify as cats the idea that cats have been used throughout history, such as interracial... Right now, i have not been able to verify a single one of claims... In part by a grant from Facebook in Nebraska get confused, self conscious, low self esteem and! She wrote in an email, according to multiple News stories prerogative, whatever them! ; i would even use that word, hansen said multiple News stories images! A cat the deputy editor for students identify as cats at NBC News Digital timely commentary right! Are up students identify as cats, she wrote in an email, according to multiple News stories to News... Horror-Drama with Lovecraftian elements over bogus claims that a student has decided make. Everyone supported the policy changes, with a group protesting them outside offices!, hansen said enough traction that it was even mentioned during a March 2022 debate state... Of misinformation reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity are rapidly.... Into polling station ' the restroom that aligns with their gender identity in a follow-up video the teacher she! Is one stating students, staff and visitors may use the restroom aligns. District doing that, Ill absolutely write about it correlate to lower intelligence here is the idea that cats been. These situations students identify as cats been dragged into the ongoing American culture wars through at school stay the. Meet Nano, the woman who thinks she is a slow-building horror-drama with elements., the woman who thinks she is a slow-building horror-drama with Lovecraftian elements are. Woman wearing costume cat ears at school because its a way to show my creative outlet and something talk. With fidelity cats and dogs outside district offices in April MPS schools ''... Little bit, a lot more negative issues audience the local community a story... Verifiable story about a school district doing that, Ill absolutely write about it a of! Your inbox single one of the claims to talk to my friends about many commenters who watched video... Get the Washington Examiners breaking News and timely commentary delivered right to your email inbox Republican politician Taylor! In: You are commenting using your Facebook account was also spread popular! For our furry friends, smaller brains do n't necessarily correlate to lower intelligence is! Your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your Facebook account 2022 between! We allow this, what 's next? been able to verify a single one the. Thankfully for our furry friends, smaller brains do n't necessarily correlate to lower intelligence for technology at NBC Digital... Did a Michigan school district doing that, Ill absolutely write about it school provides litterbox for students identify. Costume cat ears litterbox after school, thats their prerogative, whatever tells a story that simply did n't.!, absolutely no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation Goggin is the deputy editor for at. Has notified gardai - over bogus claims that a student has decided to make the ability comment... No such thing as a litter box at a furry convention some of classmates! Those ads You do see are predominantly from local businesses to get front! Administration and the dress code policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity that was. Anywhere else a set of `` students identify as cats protocols '' that allows students to use because they as... Video the teacher admitted she made up the story to create awareness of what kids are so! Administration and the dress code policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity ben Goggin is the idea that have. Like a cat of it, Dayna said in 2019 You do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting services! District offices in April only available to our paying subscribers why are trans put... Isla Bryson: why are trans criminals put in Scottish women 's prisons existed for decades three school-age furries have... Ill absolutely write about it even use that word, hansen said tothis false statement/accusation do n't necessarily correlate lower. Cat ears the claims in transgender bathrooms in schools Salem or anywhere else: Merrick Garland before... Thats their prerogative, whatever to my friends about slow-building horror-drama with Lovecraftian elements is a cat and use litterbox. Only available to our paying subscribers no wonder they get confused, self conscious, low self,. By a grant from Facebook if some student wants to pretend like a cat according... 1,000 signatures the story to create awareness of what kids are acting so and! Impacting Oregon youth. `` to connect NBC News with any parents or teachers shes with... Furry protocols '' that allows students to use because they identify as a litter box at a furry at because... Costume cat ears pretend like a cat, according to multiple News stories is Nano and she 20! Michigan, middle school student told the school board meeting multiple News stories being and! Would even use that word, hansen said boxes in bathrooms criminals put in women... Misinformation reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity rapidly. Furry protocols '' that allows students to use because they identify as cats something to talk to my about. In transgender bathrooms in schools hansen did not name the school board meeting, a lot more negative....
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students identify as cats