Colorado GOP Governor Candidate Latest To Fall For Student ‘Furries’ Hoax—Here’s How Many Others Have Been Duped

Topline

A Republican running for governor in Colorado became the latest candidate to campaign on a thoroughly debunked claim that a growing number of students are dressing up as “furries” and self-identifying as animals in public schools, even though it’s been rejected repeatedly by school and state officials around the country.

Key Facts

What We Don’t Know

What caused the hoax to spread. 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 boxes provided in school bathrooms, though the school superintendent debunked the claim days later. Another post on the account referred to a Kentucky sex education teacher as a “predator”—a post that was picked up by Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, who asked why schools are “essentially grooming centers for gender identity radicals.” In March, Nebraska state Sen. Bruce Bostelman floated the conspiracy in a televised debate, saying kids “meow” and “bark,” and asking how having litter boxes in classrooms can be sanitary. He backed away from the claim within hours, admitting it had no basis. One month later, a school superintendent in a suburb outside Madison, Wisconsin, issued a statement debunking a claim that her district has a “furry protocol” for students who choose to opt out of speaking or participating in gym activities and instead “lick their paws,” bark and hiss.

Key Background

The conspiracy theory comes as right-wing lawmakers introduce, and in cases pass, legislation criticized as anti-LGBT, including Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law prohibiting elementary school educators from teachers from instructing students on gender identity and Texas’ hate-crime investigation into the parents of trans children. It fits into a larger conservative push around education. Conservative lawmakers have also criticized critical race theory, a once obscure term that has come into the national spotlight after being slammed on conservative media for rewriting history, although analysts on the left have attacked those claims as a way to whitewash history.

Crucial Quote

“What on earth are we doing?” Ganahl asked on local radio KNUS. “Knock it off, schools. Put your foot down. Like, stop it. Let’s get back to teaching basics and not allow this woke ideology—ideological stuff—infiltrate our schools.”

Tangent

A subculture known as “furries” has for years existed among adults who are interested in animal characters, including dressing up in costumes, mimicking animal behaviors, and attending conventions. The community – which includes a high percentage of queer members — considers itself a fandom, and decries characterizations that focus on sexuality or fetishes as inaccurate and unfair. Still, the rumors of furries in schools have drawn condemnation from some LGBTQ advocacy groups as an example of baseless anti-queer sentiment.

Further Reading

School district disputes Colorado GOP governor candidate’s claims that ‘many’ students identify as cats (KRDO)

Ganahl Falsely Claims That Kids Are ‘Identifying as Cats … All Over Colorado & Schools Are Tolerating It’ (Colorado Times Recorder)

Minnesota GOP nominee for governor claimed kids are using litter boxes in schools – it’s an internet hoax (CNN)