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Texas F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act Targets 'Non-Human Behavior' in Schools

Governor Greg Abbott supports the bill, linking it to his push for school vouchers, as critics question its necessity and focus.

Furries attend Anthrocon 2023, one of the world's largest anthropomorphic conventions celebrating the furry subculture, in which people dress up or roleplay as animal characters, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 2023.
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Overview

  • The F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act, introduced in the Texas House, seeks to ban behaviors associated with the 'furry' subculture, such as wearing tails, barking, or using litter boxes in public schools.
  • Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed the bill, framing it as part of his broader campaign to promote school choice vouchers allowing taxpayer funds to be used for private school tuition.
  • The bill has been assigned priority status as House Bill 54, but no hearings have been scheduled yet.
  • Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, argue the bill is unnecessary, based on debunked claims, and ironic given its potential implications for private schools under the voucher program.
  • Claims about students identifying as animals or using litter boxes in schools have been widely discredited by school officials, though some lawmakers continue to cite them as justification.