AUSTIN, Texas — A new bill filed in the Texas House would prevent students from behaving like anything other than a human being at schools in the state.
The Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education, or FURRIES, Act, filed by Austin-area Republican State Rep. Stan Gerdes, would “prohibit any non-human behavior by a student, including presenting himself or herself, on days other than exempt days, as anything other than a human being.”
The law would allow for exempt days, such as Halloween and other school dress-up days.
The law defines “non-human” behavior as “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,” with provided examples being:
- Using a litter box for the passing of stool, urine or other human byproducts
- A personal or outward display, except during a school play or by a school mascot, through surgical or superficial means of features that are non-human such as using tails, leashes, collars or other accessories designed for pets
- Using fur, other than naturally occurring human hair or a wig made to look like human hair
- Artificial, animal-like ears
- Other physiological features that have not historically been assigned to the human race through a means of natural biological development
- Students who bark, meow, hiss or make other animal noises that are not human speech
- Licking oneself or others for the purpose of grooming or maintenance.
A hearing has not yet been set for the bill.