A new bill introduced in the Texas House seeks to prohibit students from engaging in “non-human behavior” in public schools, referring to actions like barking, meowing, or pretending to be animals—practices sometimes linked to the furry subculture, a community of people interested in anthropomorphic animal characters.
The legislation, known as the FURRIES Act (Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Educational Spaces), was introduced on March 13 by Texas State Representative Stan Gerdes. If passed, the bill would ban students from using litter boxes, licking themselves, making animal noises, or otherwise pretending to be animals while in school settings.
Gerdes defended the proposal in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “No distractions. No theatrics. Just education. Texas schools are for educating kids, not indulging in radical trends.” He emphasized that the bill aims to keep classrooms focused on academic success rather than what he views as disruptive behavior.
The bill has sparked divided reactions, with some arguing it is necessary for maintaining discipline, while others claim it unfairly targets a niche group. Although the bill has yet to be voted on in the House, it has already generated significant online debate.
The FURRIES Act is the latest in a series of bills addressing cultural and behavioral concerns in Texas schools. Earlier in March, state senators passed Senate Bill 20, a separate piece of legislation that aims to ban material featuring minors in “obscene” ways, including anime, video games, and AI-generated content.
As lawmakers debate these proposals, their potential impact on free expression, school policies, and digital media regulation remains a growing concern in Texas and beyond.
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