OnJanuary16,Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called for a special session to discuss tax cuts. This also meant that several other bills were filed, even though most will never come close to becoming law.
OneOklahomalawmaker, Rep. Justin Humphrey, RLane submittedabillinhopes of targeting furries. A furry is a subculture of citizens interested in anthropomorphic animal characters. Meaning, they like to dress and identify as a specific animal.
Humphrey’s bill, Oklahoma House Bill 3084 aims to keep that type of subculture out of Oklahoma schools. The bill would ban “students who purport to be an imaginary animal or animal species, or who engage in anthropomorphic behavior commonly referred to as furries at school” from being able to participate in class or any school-related activities.
Here’s where the bill gets interesting. It would require parents or guardians to pick up the student furry from school. If the parent or parents are unable to pick the student up from school, the bill states that “animal control services shall be contacted toremovethestudent.”
This means that if the parent is unable to retrieve their child, who is dressed as an animal, from school, then animal control will come and remove the child from the premises.
Some parents applauded Humphrey for his stance against furries. Some state that dressing up is strictly for Halloween and Spirit Week at school. Any other times, the students should be in school-approved attire. Another parent noted that the student dressed in an animal costume would disrupt the classroom, especially if the student was using the animal’s mannerisms.
While most parents agree that animal costumes should not be allowed at school, some argue that there are more pressing matters that the state of Oklahoma needs to focus their attention on. One asked for alternative placements for elementary students who need additional services.
Apparently, Oklahoma isn’t the only state putting this issue at the forefront. In 2023, a Florida school board weighed in on whether kids should be allowed to wear furry dress attire. Also, Florida Governor Ron De-Santis signed a law restricting children from attending “adult live entertainment.” The law barred a furry convention held in Orlando from allowing anyone under the age of 18 into the event.