A school in Wales has been forced to deny that it would offer litter boxes to students who “identify” as cats. West Monmouth, located in the town of Pontypool, Wales, sent a letter to officials this Friday denying the rumors. The rumor is said to have originated in the United States.
In the letter, quoted by BBC News, deputy headteacher Claire Hughes wrote that the school had been made aware of “the existence of a number of issues and concerns” surrounding the provision of sandboxes.
“I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we do not have sandboxes in the school and do not intend to do so,” he said.
The document noted that “nevertheless [West Monmouth]In order to be an inclusive and welcoming school, the institution would not take action for students who “identify with an animal of any kind.” And he added:
“This type of behavior is not acceptable at school and therefore there are no measures of this type, such as sanitary sands.”
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According to Torfaen Council, mentioned by the British newspaper, the letter was sent after “rumors and misinformation” spread online.
Attacks on transsexuals
Despite the real letter, there is a fabricated story at the other end: The information that schools would begin providing sandboxes for students who identify as “furries” came from farright groups in the US that attack young transgender people.
The word “furry” refers to an anthropomorphic creature, i.e. an animal with human characteristics. People who enjoy following these characters, dressing up, and consuming content about them are part of the furry fandom.
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The information was shared by podcaster Joe Rogan of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. The story, which Rogan originally told former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, was presented as a report revealed by the host’s “friend’s wife,” according to The Guardian. According to Rogan, the woman was a teacher at a school that offered litter boxes next to the restrooms in the girls’ restrooms.
The report said the hoax was rooted in ongoing attacks on young transgender people. An NBC News report showed that at least 20 candidates and officials repeated the story, even though none of the school districts mentioned actually offered litter boxes.
I got involved and got carried away I probably should have made that clear Rogan admitted months later, according to The Guardian, adding that his “friend’s wife” had “changed schools” and that he couldn’t confirm whether the location of Current Work would have litter boxes or not.