Conspiracies About Furries in Schools Got Laughs. The Texas Lege Is Taking Them Dead Seriously. Is “radical” furry culture taking over Texas public schools? One lawmaker says: Maybe, I’m not sure, but let’s ban it just in case.
By Robert Downen
May 1, 2025
As much of the state slept on Tuesday night, some Texas lawmakers were working late, pondering such weighty questions as: If you lick Cheeto dust off your fingers and someone sees you, is it possible they could assume you’re actually pretending to be a cat?
A strange query, sure. But given the potential consequences posed by the bill being heard, Representative James Talarico, a Democrat from Austin, felt it was worth discussing. If the answer is yes—if the act of tonguing your thumb clean of that last bit of Flamin’ Hot residue bares even a slight resemblance to how a feline grooms itself—then it is theoretically possible that someone might not see the cheddar on your hands and might thus confuse your finger licking with a sincere desire to live your life as a cat. And if you’re a Texas public school student, such a mishap could soon cause very real problems for you, your teacher, or your school.
The bizarre back-and-forth came just before midnight on Tuesday as the Texas House’s education committee debated legislation that would ban Texas public school students from engaging in what the bill’s author, Republican Representative Stan Gerdes, of Smithville, has deemed “non-human” behavior while on campus. Among the potentially forbidden behaviors: barking, meowing, wearing a leash, licking oneself or others for....
texasmonthly.com
The bill. Several times longer than average. Probably won't get out of committee. Even Texas isn't that crazy:
capitol.texas.gov |
