Governor Greg Abbott has revived a widely debunked conspiracy theory that Texas public schools are accommodating students who identify as animals, using the claim to bolster his push for a statewide private school voucher program. Speaking at a gathering of pastors in Austin, Abbott stated that the so-called “furries” trend is present in Texas schools, alleging that students are dressing as cats and that some classrooms provide litter boxes—an assertion that has been repeatedly disproven by school districts and fact-checkers.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, Abbott also voiced support for a newly filed bill, the “Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education (F.U.R.R.I.E.S) Act,” which seeks to ban students from engaging in what it defines as “non-human behavior,” including wearing animal ears or making animal noises. The bill includes exceptions for sports mascots or kids in school plays.
“In some rural school districts across Texas, there are students known as ‘furries,’” Abbott told the crowd. “Y’all know what this is?” he asked, prompting scattered affirmations from the audience. “Kids are going to school dressed as cats, and classrooms have litter boxes for them,” he claimed.
In recent weeks, Abbott has intensified his criticism of public schools while promoting his signature policy initiative: a program that would divert public funds to private education. He has framed private school vouchers as a solution for parents who, he claims, are frustrated with what he describes as “the pervasive woke leftist agenda” in public schools.
Last month, Abbott directed the Texas Education Agency to investigate Houston ISD’s Bellaire High School after a local Moms for Liberty chapter claimed that teachers were “socially transitioning” a student by respecting their preferred name and pronouns. While this case involved a real issue of identity and respect for a student’s wishes, Abbott then pointed to the false and debunked claim about “furries” in schools—alleging that students dressed as animals and used litter boxes in classrooms—as another reason why parents should be able to use state funds for private schooling.
The 2022 rumors about schools accommodating “furries” began circulating online, with false claims that schools were providing litter boxes in bathrooms. However, school districts in Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska quickly debunked these allegations. Furthermore, PolitiFact’s fact-checking team found no credible news reports to support the claim, further disproving these baseless rumors.
Mandy Drogin, campaign director at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, spoke immediately after Abbott, warning the group that Marxists have spent decades indoctrinating college students and infiltrating government and major corporations. She claimed that these efforts push “divisiveness” through diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as well as critical race theory.
“One of their smartest moves was to infiltrate colleges of education and begin shaping the next generation of teachers,” Drogin said. “They didn’t do it in a radical way; they did it under the guise of inclusivity.”
Critics point to the danger in these extreme claims, which divert attention from real educational challenges—like ensuring proper resources for students with disabilities—and create fear rather than fostering constructive, meaningful change in education.
