Key Takeaways:
- A Texas Republican lawmaker is pushing a bill to stop schools from letting kids use litter boxes and identify as animals—a claim that’s been proven false.
- A Democratic lawmaker called out the bill as a waste of time during a legislative hearing.
- The idea behind the bill is based on a debunked conspiracy theory that’s gone viral on right-wing social media.
- No evidence exists of schools allowing such practices, but the bill has sparked heated debate.
A heated debate erupted in the Texas Legislature over a bill that aims to stop schools from allowing students to use litter boxes and identify as animals. The proposal, called the Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying In Educational Spaces (FURRIES) Act, has been met with criticism from Democrats who argue it’s based on a debunked conspiracy theory.
Republican lawmaker Stan Gerdes introduced the bill, claiming it’s needed to address concerns about students acting like animals in schools. However, Democratic Rep. James Talarico confronted Gerdes during a hearing, calling the bill “weird” and “a little creepy.” He also accused Gerdes of wasting the legislature’s time on a issue that has no evidence to support it.
The Confrontation
Talarico criticized Gerdes for focusing on a conspiracy theory instead of addressing real issues like student mental health or school closures. “I find it concerning that these types of debunked conspiracy theories are being used by politicians at the highest levels of our government,” Talarico said.
Gerdes struggled to provide examples of schools where students were allowed to use litter boxes or identify as animals. Even Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has promoted the idea, but no evidence exists to back it up.
The Hoax Behind the Bill
The idea of schools allowing kids to use litter boxes and act like animals has gone viral on right-wing social media. Many parents have expressed outrage over the claim, but it’s based on a misunderstanding of “furry culture,” a subculture where some adults dress up as animals as a hobby.
The closest thing to this happening in schools was a 2018 report from Colorado. Some schools there kept cat litter as part of emergency kits for students during lockdowns. However, this had nothing to do with kids identifying as animals.
Right-Wing Outrage Without Evidence
Despite the lack of evidence, the conspiracy theory has sparked outrage among some parents. Many believe schools are promoting “furry culture” and allowing students to use litter boxes. These claims have been repeatedly debunked, but they continue to spread online.
Educators and experts have dismissed the idea, calling it a distraction from real issues facing schools.
Lawmakers Divided
Talarico argued that the legislature should focus on more pressing issues, like improving mental health support for students or addressing school closures caused by budget cuts. “We are spending precious legislative time on a bill that has no basis in reality,” he said.
Gerdes, however, defended his bill, saying it’s needed to protect Texas students. He didn’t provide any evidence to support his claims, but he insisted the measure is necessary.
The Bigger Picture
The debate over the FURRIES Act highlights how conspiracy theories can influence politics. Even though the claims are baseless, they’ve sparked a heated discussion in the Texas Legislature. Critics like Talarico worry that focusing on such issues distracts from solving real problems in schools.
For now, the bill’s fate remains uncertain. Whether it will pass or be dismissed as a waste of time is still to be seen.