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He does admit the verbiage in the bill about calling animal control to the school if an offending student’s parents won’t come pick them up is likely to come out of the bill via an amendment. So if you’re going to pretend to be an animal, we’re going to have a hard time instructing you. I think most schools will agree with me, most superintendents agree,” Humphrey said. Before the 2024 Oklahoma legislative sessions begin, thousands of bills will be filed, and most will never come close to becoming law.
What could be considered furry accessories?
The legislation goes so far as to mandate that animal control services be contacted to remove offending students from campuses. In addition to the ongoing moral panic over trans kids, conservatives have worked themselves into an absolute lather about furries in schools. In 2022, they were downright panicked over a right-wing urban legend that the woke epidemic was causing some schools to provide litter boxes for students who identify as furries. Despite the fact that this was untrue, several Republican political hopefuls and a handful of actual lawmakers used the fake litter box story to fire up their bases on the campaign trail. Ahead of the 2024 Oklahoma legislative session, Humphrey filed a bill targeting "furries," or people in a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters, in Oklahoma schools.
Do students really use litter boxes at schools?
The state Ethics Commission will determine when gubernatorial appointees must file the forms that detail income derived from their employment and investments and any ownership interest they have in private businesses or publicly traded companies. The topic of furries, while new to the Oklahoma legislature, is one that's been discussed during the past few years in educational and political arenas. This work is essential to a better-informed community and a healthy democracy. Every day we strive to produce journalism that matters — stories that strengthen accountability and transparency, provide value and resonate with readers like you. Behavior that most school administrators would likely identify as disruptive - and that’s the point of Humphrey’s bill.
Most Viewed Oklahoma Bills
The new laws run the gamut from setting age limits for motorized scooters to ensuring health insurance coverage of diagnostic mammograms. House Bill 3133 filed by Representative Humphrey states in part that any person who is of Hispanic descent, is a member of a criminal street gang, or has been convicted of a gang-related offense shall be deemed to have committed acts of terrorism. AnthroExpo, furry conventions and other cosplay events are great opportunities for people-watching or learning about the furry fandom. He says he doesn’t care how kids behave at home, or even in public, but he does draw the line at the school door.
'Ridiculous': Oklahoma lawmaker proposes school 'furry' ban, stirring global controversy - KOKH FOX25
'Ridiculous': Oklahoma lawmaker proposes school 'furry' ban, stirring global controversy.
Posted: Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
House Bill 3084 labeled 'Oklahoma furry bill'
And what of high school mascots — a type of expression typically welcomed by schools? Could they be barred from participating in pep rallies or roaming the sidelines at football games? If HB 3084 were enacted, it may be the end of the line for costumed mascots similar to the Nittany Lion, Big Al, or OU’s very own Boomer and Sooner at public primary and secondary schools in the state of Oklahoma.
New Bill Would Ban 'Furries' From The Classroom
Even if the anti-furry moral panic wasn’t really just a smokescreen for transphobia, it would still be cruel toward children in a way that we should oppose. If we believe that children deserve the right to self-expression, that holds true for whatever form that expression might take, whether that’s wearing clothing that doesn’t “align” with the gender they were assigned at birth or drawing themselves as an anthropomorphic dog. No matter what group they’re targeting, the Republican rallying cry to “protect the children,” used by many as political currency, only serves to further disenfranchise minors. In later interviews, the legislator claimed the bill was written in response to students behaving like animals and using litter boxes at schools, which has widely been debunked as a hoax. Circling back to the Oklahoma ban, the sponsor of this bill cites a debunked story of schools providing litter boxes to furries as the impetus for the legislation.
Although lawmakers filed numerous bills this year to regulate content in school libraries, which have become a flashpoint in the ongoing culture wars, only a couple of bills became law. Humphrey took a little bit of heat for the two bills Wednesday, but it will all come down to what happens this legislative session. "If someone wants to have school spirit and wear a bulldog costume to a pep assembly, are you going to call animal control to haul the kid away?" he questioned.
KRMG In-Depth: Lawmaker behind the “furries” bill in the Oklahoma legislature explains his measure
Rep. J. J. Humphrey of Oklahoma House District 19 tells KRMG he was skeptical when he first heard about such behavior, but kept getting reports of disruptions from various districts around the state, including rural areas. Individuals with this niche interest sometimes express themselves by adopting a “fursona” and wearing an animal costume. These outfits range from the simple — like faux animal ears and a tail — to elaborate, full-body outfits costing thousands of dollars. The new law also encourages, but does not require, colleges and universities to include the hotline and the phone number for campus police on student ID cards. In a major change, the renter would then be able to deduct the repair costs from their rent, but could not exceed one monthly rent payment. Since 1978, state law has only allowed a tenant to deduct up to $100 in repair costs.
The topic came up recently when Oklahoma lawmaker Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, decided to file a bill targeting "furries," or people in a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters, in Oklahoma schools. One Oklahoma lawmaker, Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, decided to file a bill targeting "furries," or people in a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters, in Oklahoma schools. House Bill 3084 is aimed at kids who dress like animals at school, commonly referred to as "furries". "Any time we are catering to a mental health disease of a kid thinking they're an animal i think we've got problems," he said. "Any time we are catering to a mental health disease of a kid thinking they're an animal I think we've got problems," he said.
A new law requires all school library materials to reflect "community standards" through age-appropriate materials. This is just one of a handful of changes to the state's medical marijuana laws. Oklahoma's state treasurer will be tasked with carrying out a new law that requires the state to divest from any banks or financial companies that boycott fossil fuel energy companies.
Cosplay, which is short for "costume play," generally involves people creating costumes reflecting pre-existing characters, characters seen in film or comic books. Attire can range from accessories as simple as animal ears, tails or shirts to elaborate costumes. Some people create a "fursona," or an animal persona they dress up as with "distinct personalities, histories, relationships and attitudes," according to Furscience. The term furry refers to individuals with an interest in anthropomorphic animals, often expressed through art, costume, and fandom.
On January 18th, TikToker @woke_karen then posted a video explaining the bill, garnering thousands of views in a week. Also around that time, TikTok influencer @erininthemorn uploaded a video about Bill 3084, saying it's "the most ridiculous bill" she's ever read. Although many insurance companies already cover the costs of standard mammograms, a new law will require them to cover more precise breast imaging, as well. In other words, women will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket costs should a doctor order diagnostic breast imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI. The change comes as some companies are putting more emphasis on addressing climate change while facing pushback from some Republicans who say businesses should not be taking political stances on hot-button topics like fossil fuels, abortion or guns.
While stories about furries have raised questions and concerns across the country, there is little evidence to indicate widespread problems in schools. This year, along with the bill seeking to ban furries from public schools, Humphrey authored a bill, HB 3133, that would classify anyone of Hispanic descent, who is a member of a criminal street gang and has been convicted of gang-related offenses, as having committed an act of terrorism. The bill goes on to suggest that a parent or guardian would be contacted to pick the student up, otherwise, animal control would be contacted to collect the children.
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