Oklahoma Republican State Representative Justin Humphrey was criticized after he introduced a bill that seeks to restrict students who identify as furries from participating in school activities.
The bill specifically targets students who "purport to be an imaginary animal or animal species, or who engage in anthropomorphic behavior commonly referred to as furries."
While some may dismiss the bill as farcical, it taps into a debunked conservative myth that suggests schools are accommodating students who identify as animals, often citing claims of litter boxes being placed in classrooms.
This myth has been perpetuated by several Republican legislators and candidates, with at least 20 of them making such claims in 2022 alone. The unfounded narrative is often used as a rallying point to raise concerns about LGBTQ+ student protections and accommodations.
Despite the lack of evidence supporting the existence of litter boxes for students who identify as animals, the myth has persisted and influenced political agendas on the far-right.
In a video that went viral on X, formerly Twitter, Humphrey used those same conspiracy theories to defend his proposed legislation:
"People are going to call me insane for running this bill. Hell, I’d say they’re insane. If you got an animal coming to school: how about we get them vaccinated? How about we get them neutered and how about we send them to the pound?”
“I don’t want to see some kid go into the bathroom in a litter box, in the kitty litter. Those people... have lost their mind letting these people pretend to be animals in the classroom."
“If they’re gonna be animals. Let’s send them to the pound, let’s send them home. How do you teach a cat math?”
You can see the video below.
Humphrey's actions exposed him to immediate mockery.
Humphrey has a history of sponsoring extreme and sensational bills.
In 2017, he introduced a bill requiring women to obtain written consent from the "father of the fetus" before having an abortion, sparking significant controversy. He defended his stance by describing women as "hosts" and suggesting that men should have more say over the fate of a fetus.
Last year, Humphrey sponsored a bill attempting to reduce the penalties for cockfighting in Oklahoma from a felony to a misdemeanor, further adding to the list of contentious legislative proposals associated with his name.
