Texas bill bans furry subculture in public schools

A new bill in Texas aims to ban the "furry subculture" from public schools. Known as the FURRIES Act, it prohibits students from acting like animals, including barking or meowing, as well as wearing items like leashes or tails. The bill was introduced by Republican Rep. Stan Gerdes from Smithville. The bill's purpose is to keep furries, who are people interested in anthropomorphic animals, out of schools. Gerdes describes this behavior as "unhealthy role playing." He claims to have inspired the bill due to a specific incident in his school district, but he has not shared details about it. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expressed support for the bill. He mentioned it during a meeting with pastors while discussing the need for private school vouchers. Abbott claimed that the trend of furries is widespread in rural Texas schools and that it distracts from education. Critics of the bill point out that rumors about furries in schools have been debunked before. For instance, claims about schools providing litter boxes for students were proven false. Critics argue that these discussions are part of a broader trend in which Texas lawmakers are targeting public education. Despite the controversies, the furry community has been active since the 1980s. They host events and conventions worldwide. Gerdes anticipates that supporters of the furry subculture may show up at the Texas Capitol during legislative discussions about the bill. No hearing date has been announced yet.