Its more of a role-playing type thing that some people do to express themselves in a different way. 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Lewton noted that each school within the Dickinson Public Schools district has its own handbook that lays out dress code. According to the Carroll Times Herald, rumors that Carroll Community School District officials were putting litter boxes into their bathroom facilities have been going on for weeks! It is unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication, however, our Midland PS stakeholders may be confused about a false message/accusation that has resurfaced this week and is gaining traction in the social media realm, he wrote. European cat, Felis catus, brown tabby kitten in litter tray. Fact check: No, schools aren't providing litter boxes for students who identify as furries. In the 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 was a litter box in the bathroom of . During his transphobic chat with conservative politician Tulsi Gabbard, right-leaning podcaster Joe Rogan repeated a far-right lie about student "furries" using litter boxes in public schools. I was in every school today," Lewton said Thursday. Sign up for my, according to Gazette education reporter Grace King, submitting a letter to the editor or guest column. Taylor, doesnt your school have acting, dance, music, and art classes where you can express yourselves? [] reports have popped up elsewhere. In NY state, a baby can be aborted at birth, but it is illegal, no joke, to declaw a cat. This is about stupidity not transphobia. The Gazette is Iowas independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage. This is about stupidity not transphobia. 0:00. . litter boxes in schools for furries maine. Yeah, unfortunately. Parents of children in one Iowa school have even claimed that a girl requested a litter box in the girl's restroom. No. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! I asked Keenan Crow of One Iowa, a LGBTQ advocacy group, if they think its a coincidence that a story like this would pop up at a time when public schools are under attack and conservative lawmakers are working to put restrictions on transgender and LGBTQ students. They're furious. 2. Counter-protestors stand and hold signs at the intersection of 10th Street and . We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Editor Kathie Obradovich has been covering Iowa government and politics for more than 30 years, most recently as political columnist and opinion editor for the Des Moines Register. "It is unconscionable that this afternoon I . You can also support us on PayPal at. God, not everything that hurts peoples feelings is wrong. Remember how rightward marching culture crusaders said same-sex marriage would destroy society and bring on scary stuff such as rampant polygamy? Youre missing the point. There never will be," said EVSC Superintendent David Smith, after Monday's board meeting. Getty Images. This is definitely going on in schools. 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 . Imagine being such a tone deaf journalist that you miss the whole point that this is about transphobia and mocking trans people., WTF cares. Doubling down on his denial, Sharrow urged any parents to send him a message in the future if they ever have questions about any "wild accusations that don't sound like something" the district would do. Des Moines Register, "Carroll Community School District superintendent: No litter boxes in schools," Feb. 10, 2022 Facebook post , April 4, 2022 Fort Worth Star-Telegram, " Furries eating out of . I think we need some intervention on these kids and parents. We will need to lock them up and feed them the same food other cats and dogs are fed. She also claimed that the nefarious practice was part of a nationwide agenda being pushed within the education system. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette), Columnist/editorial writer for The Gazette. His latest book is The Grace Controversy. An untrue rumor that litter boxes are being placed in schools for students who dress up in furry costumes and identify as cats has made its way to two North Carolina school districts despite . In a text message Sunday, Kraayenbrink told the Messenger he found out about the litter boxes during a confidential conversation and he does not feel comfortable identifying the district. When Can You Get Your License If Your Birthday Is On A Leap Day? published on Jan. 23, a Michigan school superintendent dispelled the rumor after a comment resurfaced from a school board member that the school district made accommodation for furries by installing litter boxes in its restrooms. Odd. That's when a local news story about a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded . Some furries even wear animal costumes or tails in public, I believe I'm a WOLF and I dress up using furry ears and a tail to howl in the woods, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Actually, I was listening to Simon Conway talk about this today, and it apparently IS going on in IOWA schools. And the school was allowing kitty litter to be placed in the classroom or bathroom or both. Nothing wrong with being Transphobic . Carroll School District Superintendent Casey Burlau said it got so bad that he had to send a letter to students and parents on Monday. The litter boxes in schools hoax (also called the litter box canard) [1] [2] 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. Whats next? You know, this is being conflated specifically to invalidate trans identities which are real and which have been studied extensively, they said. Its not make-believe or fantasy. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. 'A rising usage of furry refers to people who have a keen interest in or even dress up as, anthropomorphic animal characters, like those often seen in comics, games, and cartoons. Youre literally following a rumor mill. But the cost of using transgender kids as pawns in the war against teachers unions is much higher. Go to the bathroom in a toilet and flush. In Wisconsin, several school districts debunked the claim, the APreported. Those that have sex in the suits is what they're infamous for, but that's only a small percent of furries. I went to r/furry to ask for advice and their opinion on how to handle this situation but got permanently banned. "When I was the middle school principal, our language arts teacher said we have to do this because there is so much media and news out there that doesn't tell the whole story or the truth. The rumor had also been peddled on Facebook by the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, Meshawn Maddock. They are acting just as described in this article. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! In January, in possibly the first report, Libs of TikTok posted a video from a Michigan school board meeting of a woman who claimed "kids who identify as a cat or a dog" can pee in litter . In Michigan, a school superintendent alsosent an email to parents to say the claim was false, after a parent stated it publicly at a school board meeting that garnered more than 80,000 views on YouTube. All rights reserved. Sick. Those people call themselves Therians or Otherkin and are NOT a part of the Furry fandom. Some say litter boxes are located in "transgender bathrooms" in schools. A school board in North Carolina considered a proposal to ban furry costumes in schools after they say they received numerous complaints about students dressing up as animals and using litter . As a result, school boards and social media have spawned the subject into a hot button conversation and widespread rumors. No, furries don't get litter boxes in school bathrooms | Is This Legit? It all ended in a big fight that caused massive property damage to the school. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. Some people laughed at how absurd it is that school kids are supposedly . These lawsuits should be plain and simple. School litter box fever will not die in Iowa. (KCCI) - A school district in Iowa has been hit with rumors saying that students who identify as cats are allowed to use litter boxes in the school restrooms. I never thought I would have to type the following words: schools are not putting litter boxes in their bathrooms. Her statement went viral on social media and thrust this rumor into the national spotlight. "And so I heard yesterday that at least one of our schools in our town has in one of those unisex bathrooms a litter box for the kids that identify as cats and I'm really disturbed by that.". And I guess I've never seen anybody dressed up.". Rebecca Kleeman, a spokeswoman for Millard Public Schools, said she is unaware of any incidents involving furries or requests for litter boxes. Published Jan 24, 2022. But the narrative that schools would indulge students in this fashion has a much darker underbelly. Put them on a leash to go to the bathroom outside. No wonder the kids are not learning! Bostelman made the comments during a debate over a bill, introduced by Gretna Sen. Jen Day, that would require schools to have "points of contact" for students with behavioral health issues, document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. Once you see through this political cat-and-mouse game, the litter box story just seems doggone sad. This week, on the same day Iowa Capital Dispatch published the Carroll litter box story, lawmakers were debating bills to ban transgender girls participation on womens sports teams and throw educators in jail for making obscene literature available to students. Not at all, they said. I just cant believe this is real, sputtered one incredulous commenter, while another wrote, Whats going on in this town?. A couple of weeks ago we received an email. And have policies ensuring no one mocks them? We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. A Michigan school district has debunked a wild claim that the school provided litter boxes for students who identified as "furries." . They just want to live their lives and go to school, without fear of abuse. Urinating and defication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. If a student who identifies as a coyote tries to kill and eat a student who identifies as a cat, is the teacher allowed to interfere? A reaction from another user calling for . Advertisment: In late 2021 and early 2022, a rumor spread far and wide that conflated distinct groups of people: furries (or the furry fandom) and the transgender/gender diverse community. And so, we've been working on that to make sure that our kids are good citizens and that they can identify author's bias or credible sources. The school district has denied the claim. Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. A Nebraska state lawmaker apologized on Monday after he publicly cited a persistent but debunked rumor alleging that schools are placing litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate children . A young child wears cat ears while doing school work at home. Instead of seeking more understanding about their lives and approaching these issues with empathy and an open mind, the leaders of their state are spitting venom, stoking divisions and embracing nonsense. Interestingly, the school wrote it doesnt want to discourage or thwart the creativity or individualism of students, but it wants to promote a safe and healthy culture for all kids to feel comfortable. It doesnt affect me and either way, there are myriad remedy to stop it. ", The post was later edited to add, "I have no litter box proof. In a phone conversation with The Dickinson Press, Superintendent Marcus Lewton denied that Dickinson Public Schools has or will be installing any litter boxes in its restrooms. Answering the Left: But do you know any gay people? And others, who call themselves furries, create animal alter egos and interact with others who do the same. A gender identity is something innate to a person; a core component of their being that cant be changed, Crow said. Linn-Mars entirely reasonable decision has become the latest target of the recklessly unreasonable and perpetually outraged. Theyre also allowed to bark. Carroll CSD Superintendent Casey Berlau sent an email to the entire district on February 7th. Some go to conventions dressed as their favorite superheroes. The same story has been debunked elsewhere in Iowa and in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan. Bostelman is the latest Republican state leader to repeat discredited rumors of students identifying as "furries" and demanding cat litter at school. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. A school had to send an email putting this rumor to rest. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools. If you have people who act like and believe they ARE animals, that is NOT a Furry. "Yesterday I heard something, and I was stunned. If these student animals are so messed in the head, lets treat them like a cat or dog! This woman claims that a group of kids who identify as "furries" and specifically identified as cats was given litter boxes in the unisex bathroom at this school. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. (319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com, Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. 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