Are districts ready? Follow her on Twitter@NataliePateGwin. Some who have believed the false rumors continue to cite them as an example of school districts going too far with so-called identity politics, drawing a connection between the litter box claims to schools allowing transgender students to use the restroom of their choice. Not everyone supported the policy changes, with a group protesting them outside district offices in April. School accused of installing litter boxes for students who identify as cats hits back after parents' outrage. Its an ugly rumor, said Shawn Scott, the superintendent Adams Central, which issued a statement on Feb. 18 shooting down the rumor. Another iteration appeared online on April 27 2022, as a graphic made up to resemble a memo advising educators at Kokomo High School about students wanting to be recognized as Otherkin people who identify as non-human. Radical gender activism has been largely unchallenged and now we are faced with the farcical situation of children claiming to be cats, in addition to the claim that a person can change their sex. that some schools are installing them for children who identify as "The Oregon Department of Education has had trans-inclusive policies in place for years now, and no harm has come to cisgender or transgender students as a result of those policies," Stenvick said. Inthe 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 wasa litter box in the bathroom of at least one local school for students who self-identify as cat "furries" people who adopt and identify with an anthropomorphized animal persona, often within online or local communities of furries. Many of these assertions claim that schools have or are in the process of having litter boxes placed in schools. Save this article by becoming a member today! And these rumors themselves are regurgitated, as can be seen in how they were referenced in a meeting of the Midland Public Schools board in Michigan in December 2021 by a local woman, identified as Lisa Hansen: Yesterday I heard something, and I was stunned, and today I am equally stunned and a little bit upset. The one that identifies as a dog has to be taken outside to use the The ABS had made a recommendation that a greater number of gender descriptors to be provided in the next census. "Okay, okay. This group of fussy felines has apparently made life difficult for this grandmother's grandchildren. (@brutamerica . In Michigan, a school superintendent also sent an email to parents to say the claim was false, after a parent stated it. But it is important to recognize that the claim comes from a place of deep fear-mongering about creating LGBTQ2SIA+ inclusive spaces in our schools.". Lawmakers are debating all kinds of extreme legislation, like Sen. Jake Chapmans school porn bill that threatens teachers with prison, Obradovich wrote in a commentary piece. boxes??!!. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. As is often the case with right-wing disinformation, Holladays outburst was not unique in either concept or outcome; he published his post less than a month after a Nebraska lawmaker, state Sen. Bruce Bostelman, vowed to colleagues to investigate wanting to put litter boxes in the schools for students who were barking and meowing during school hours: A floor speech from Nebraska State Senator Bruce Bostelman that "is about something called furries. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. In February 2022, the Carroll Community School District in Iowa was accused of providing litter boxes for those who identified as cats. But if you see any around, please let us know. #MediaWatch pic.twitter.com/Zoxfb67ihe, Media Watch (@ABCmediawatch) March 28, 2022. Rebecca Kleeman, a spokeswoman for Millard Public Schools, said she is unaware of any incidents involving furries or requests for litter boxes. Is the Damaged Russian Warship Moskva the Snake Island Ship. The Iowa Standard has heard from a handful of parents across the state concerned about students identifying as "furries" at various schools throughout the state. (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 . [56] [57] Continue with Recommended Cookies, Amid the latest wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation around the United States, right-wing candidates and social media boards are pushing a separate type of disinformation to gin up concerns that local students are identifying as cats.. (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. Update 8/23/2022, 2:44 p.m. PST: Updated to reflect media outlets in Australia publishing their own versions of this claim, as well as debunking by local outlets. Furries are bullied at almost twice the rates of. "It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.". Midland Superintendent Michael Sharrowrejected the claim outright in an email sent Jan. 20 to parents, staff and community members. TikTok False: The claim is. After being assured that it was not happening, Bowling the subcommittee co-chair further made reference to the rumor while adding in a transphobic smear. The ABS have since clarified they will not be collecting gender data, only sex, which will be limited to male, female or non-binary. And what about those cat-identifying students in Brisbane? The woman, who goes only by Nano, says she's been a cat her entire life. At least 20 Republican politicians have claimed that schools are making accommodations for students who identify as cats . "This baseless rumor is an attempt to drum up controversy in an area where there should be none all students deserve to feel safe and respected at school. Rumors began to surface that these students were permitted to use litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate them,. "I'm a sub, and the most important we do is take roll, so the school gets paid. WARNING RANT!!! Superintendent denies rumors of litter boxes in restrooms for students who identify as cats, Carroll School District Superintendent Casey Burlau denied the litter box rumors in a letter to students and parents. this type of stuff and from an area resident, Tristan Hinners, who Carroll School District Superintendent Casey Burlau said it got so bad that he had to send a letter to students and parents on Monday. Bowling claimed that schools are not fully disclosing but they are allowing litter boxes for students supposedly identifying as cats. 2023 www.desmoinesregister.com. "Restroom facilities are available at all district facilities in compliance with state law," she added. Clark's buzzer-beating three sends #6 Iowa past #2 Indiana 86-85. All rights reserved. By Erica Rucker. This issue gains negative attention because of its outrageousness, Berlau wrote in his note to parents. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: kobradovich@iowacapitaldispatch.com. AllSides members can bookmark any article and read it later. There continue to be tales of students identifying as cats with, well, tails and all. Its absurd, and its mean-spirited, and it is absolutely not the focus we should be having right now, Cobb said. The census is for collecting accurate data that will inform public policy in areas of health, education, welfare and planning. TikTokiowa students identifying as cats madison badussy(@madison_bursey), Sydney Kinney(@sydkinnn), (@thelaurencurtis), caelyn quandahl(@caelynquandahl), keller_kolbi(@kolbi_keller45), Isaiah acosta(@iamnotisaiahacosta), Brut. Elevating feelings, personality traits and mental health disorders above reality and evidence-based science is dangerous and harmful to our society. So 2 middle school kids are allowed to identify as cats Depending on the study, we find more than 70 per cent of furries identify as LGBTQ+ and more than 25 per cent are gender-identity diverse. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. arguments have been used throughout history, such as comparing interracial and homosexual relationships to bestiality and pedophilia. A TikTok user in a video that has gone viral claimed falsely that she was fired from a school after failing to respect a student's decision to identify as a cat. Now take this back to the ABS data, their collecting this which is then going to give them more of an argument, so that instead of 1,200 people identifying in this small minority, youre going to see this number rise because theyve got a greater selection criteria. 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 same story has popped up at a few school districts across the country, starting with Midland Public Schools in Michigan in December after a parent brought up concerns about litter boxes in restrooms at a school board meeting. (For my illustrated video commentary on this, go here .) Whether they see relief depends on Supreme Court decision. His note came amid a heightened scrutiny of schools across the nation, where curriculum about race is being questioned and the recommendations of certain books might lead to criminal prosecution. Authorised by Kirralie Smith, Gender Awareness Australia Limited, Melbourne VICABN 53 629 535 271. and go to school? who consider themselves cats is apparently rooted in an increasingly This whole furry thing has just got me. The district's superintendent denied this claim, stating "Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving or identifying as a cat or any other animal". Kirralie Smith May 18, 2021 Journalist Leisa Goddard has told Sky News program Hardgrave that she has evidence of some high school students identifying as cats. According to an email sent by the superintendent and shared with Local 5 by a district parent, that rumor "is simply and emphatically not true." Iowa Jan 9, 2022 #1 I refused to believe it the first time I was told this, but have been told by three different people, that I generally trust, that schools are putting kitty litter in their restrooms due to students identifying as cats. Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. An Iowa superintendent sent a letter to parents to dispel the myth. The Nebraska Examiner further reported that both Bostelman and another state senator, Steve Halloran, had been fed rumors about student furries, prompting a quick debunking from educators: This is ridiculous, said Dr. Josh Fields, the superintendent of the Seward Public Schools. "Okay, okay. Thats not good. Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. Nonbinary is when someone does not identify as either male or female. (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. down the hallways., Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, is aware He did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article. "Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving or identifying as a cat or any other animal," Superintendent Casey Berlau said Tuesday in a note to parents in the western. "Sadly, the spread of hateful disinformation targeting queer and trans folks is nothing new, and these tactics make our schools and communities less safe," they said. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Journalist Leisa Goddard has told Sky News program Hardgrave that she has evidence of some high school students identifying as cats. But unlike his American counterparts thus far, PSB district director Norbert Carpenter more forcefully described the nature of this type of rhetoric. Back to school: Oregon trans student's advice to LGBTQ youth. Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. "I realized. This is simply and emphatically not true, Burlau wrote. We have also talked with students from multiple districts who confirm this is actually a real thing. several weeks.. . The New York Times, USA TODAY, Politifact, Reuters and Snopes, among other publications, wrote articles confirming the claims were unfounded. Local advocates want to shut down that line of thinking. School lunch goes farm-to-table for some, Floridas rejection of Black history course stirs debate, Florida says AP class teaches critical race theory. MEADE COUNTY, Ky. The Meade County School district is dealing with an unusual situation: a group of high school students is attending school acting like and dressing as cats. pic.twitter.com/qQAnmjQH2t, Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) September 28, 2022. ", "It implies to the student that this type of behavior is completely acceptable and normal," they wrote in the complaint to Salem-Keizer. Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. The. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools, Sharrow wrote. Three unnamed sources with second- or third-hand knowledge and no photos, no videos, or first-hand testimony to back up the claims, Barry said, adding that the newspaper cited the video of Hansens testimony in Michigan to back up its story without disclosing that Hansens narrative had been debunked. 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