Texas bill targets furries in public schools

A new bill in Texas aims to prohibit "non-human behavior" in schools, targeting practices associated with furries. The bill, known as the FURRIES Act, has gained support from Governor Greg Abbott. The proposal would ban students from actions such as barking, hissing, or meowing, as well as wearing items like leashes, fur, or tails in public schools. Other behaviors like using litter boxes or licking for self-care would also be prohibited. However, school mascots and performances like Halloween dress-up would still be allowed. State Rep. Stan Gerdes, who introduced the bill, believes classrooms should focus on education. He expressed concern that furry roleplaying could be distracting for students and teachers. He stated that the goal is to maintain a learning environment free from what he calls radical trends. The bill would not apply to private schools. Governor Abbott mentioned that parents should have the option to move their children to different schools if they feel public schools are failing to provide a proper education. Abbott has been a strong advocate for school choice vouchers, which would allow parents to use tax dollars for private and religious schools. He acknowledges that this could affect funding for public schools.