Texas Republican state Representative Stan Gerdes admitted on Wednesday that a bill he sponsored served no purpose and addressed an issue that never existed in American schools.
His bill, HB54, would ban "furries" from classrooms. Furries are a subculture that enjoys dressing up and acting like non-human animals.
In an attempt to be clever, Gerdes named his bill the Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education— F.U.R.R.I.E.S.—Act.
According to his bill, students would be expelled for engaging in "non-human behavior" other than on "exempt days."
Texas HB54
Of greatest importance to the Texas Republican is ensuring students don't use litter boxes.
The bill states:
"'Non-Human Behavior' means any type of behavior or accessory displayed by a student in a school district other than behaviors or accessories typically displayed by a member of the homo sapiens species including: (A) using a litter box for the passing of stool, urine, or other human byproducts"
Texas HB54
Republicans across the country have repeatedly trotted out this lie as a means to promote their efforts to defund public schools and to manufacture a slippery slope to support their transphobic agenda.
But Texas Democratic state Representative James Talarico was unwilling to let it slide.
He confronted Gerdes about the purpose of his bill and the necessity of wasting legislative time on it.
Representative Talarico asked:
"Can you name a school where it has been confirmed that students are using litter boxes?"
Gerdes responded:
"Uh, well, what we do with this bill is we prevent that from happening."
You can see the exchange here:
Undeterred by Gerdes non-answer, Representative Talarico asked again:
"Can you name a school where it has been confirmed that students are using litter boxes?"
The Texas Democrat pointed out how Gerdes used the existence of litter boxes in schools to gain public support and media attention.
Representative Talarico stated:
"This was at the top of your press release. This was mentioned when you introduced this bill. Created quite a stir."
"So I’m asking, can you name a school where it’s been confirmed that there are litter boxes being provided to students?"
Gerdes replied:
"For this purpose? No, I cannot."
Representative Talarico explained the purpose of his question, saying:
"I find it concerning that these types of debunked conspiracy theories are being used by politicians at the highest levels of our government, including in this legislature, who know that they’re incorrect."
He then asked Gerdes:
"Are you aware that [Texas Republican] Governor Abbott said, quote, 'Kids go to school dressed up as cats with litter boxes in their classrooms?'"
Abbott exploited the litter box lie to push for public funding for private school vouchers.
Gerdes simply responded:
"Sure."
Representative Talarico continued, adding:
"Are you also aware that when the governor was asked by the 'Dallas Morning News' to name a single school where this happened, he couldn’t, and PolitiFact called this a 'pants-on-fire' false claim started by online rumors?"
After Gerdes said, "OK," Representative Talarico asked him:
"Do you think it’s a good use of our time to write laws based on debunked internet conspiracy theories?"
Gerdes admitted the litter box story he used repeatedly in the press was a lie, but claimed:
"Well, this isn’t, uh—this piece of legislature before us covers that among other things that are true."
Gerdes failed to specify what those other things that weren't lies were.
Representative Talarico called out several lies being spun by the GOP.
People agreed that Republicans' manufactured outrage is a waste of time that could be better used on real issues.
@fuzzwolf/Bluesky
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@mmasnick/Bluesky
The GOP is, if nothing else, dedicated to their lies.
The " litter boxes in schools" lie spawned in 2022 from the anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda created by Chaya Raichik on her once anonymous "Libs of TikTok" social media accounts.
MAGA Republicans then falsely claimed public schools were catering to furries and providing students with litter boxes instead of toilets. The lie prompted similar debate or proposed legislation in Nebraska, Michigan, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.
The truth that inspired Raichik to create her viral lie was teachers sharing on TikTok the emergency buckets/boxes stocked in their classrooms in preparation for school shootings.
@notsilencednow/X
Many of those buckets include kitty litter so children can relieve themselves in a bucket with some dignity instead of soiling their clothing.
If Republicans really want to eliminate kitty litter in classrooms, it looks like they should start by addressing gun violence.
@LeeMerrittesq/X
@bob_moss/X
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@Aurkayne/X
@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky