‘Misunderstood’ FURRIES lay bare the truth about their unique community – slamming claims their ‘fur-sonas’ are just a FETSH (despite admitting ‘sex DOES happen in the fandom’)

There are 250,000 Americans – 84 per cent being male – who identify as a Furry
Several have spoken out about the misconceptions that engulf the community
The most common appears to be over fetishism, which has caused great divides

The 250,000 Americans who identify as Furries often consider themselves to be misunderstood.

The Furry fandom, which comprises of people who express an interest in animals with human qualities, began in the 1980s – with members since being spurred on via a love of anthropomorphic animals such as those in Disney movies and video games.

The community has since started to boom, but with interest from outsiders reaching new heights, Furries have often found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Just this week, the community was thrust into a negative spotlight after one member attacked a man who was filming a group on Huntington Beach.

And several Furries have spoken out about the common misconceptions that engulf the fandom – particularly with regards to it being branded as just a fetish.

The 250,000 Americans who identify as Furries often consider themselves to be misunderstood

Attendance at Anthrocon, which is the largest Furry convention in the US, hit a record high earlier this year with 13,644 visitors

The Furry community – in which 84 per cent identify as male, 13 per cent as female and 2.5 per cent as trans – has often been unhappy with their representation in popular culture including in shows such as in CSI: Fur And Loathing In Las Vegas and 1,000 Ways To Die.

And in a recent documentary, posted earlier this month by Real Stories, members of the community laid bare their realities as they attempted to dismiss the misconceptions that have long-plagued the fandom.

One Furry, who goes by Bandit, began by giving an insight into how he started out: ‘My fur-sona is basically to memorialize my dog. He was bouncy and fun and loving and I guess whenever I’m wearing Bandit, I’m a little him.

‘I could say it is the opposite of my life because I’m a pretty laid back guy out of suit – and I get in suit and I get “party fun.”‘

Addressing the idea that the community is spurred by fetishism, he said: ‘It angers me when I find people that say “oh all you do is dress up in those suits and party and carry on and have sex in those suits.”

‘If you’ve ever had vigorous sex naked you know how much you sweat, can you imagine doing that in a full fur suit? You would die. It can quickly get to over 100 degrees inside the head. So no, that’s a false statement to even think that’s all it does.’

But he conceded: ‘Yes, there is sex that happens in the fandom – I remember when I was in my 20s – but the fur-sona, fandom thing is about helping other people, to put a smile on people’s face and let them forget about the real world and all their troubles.’

And this is a sentiment that has been vehemently echoed by others in recent years as interest continues to grow.

Addressing the idea that the community is spurred by fetishism, Bandit said: ‘It angers me when I find people that say “oh all you do is dress up in those suits and party and carry on and have sex in those suits”‘

https://youtube.com/watch?v=xVFgSFb8LLM%3Frel%3D0

Attendance at Anthrocon, which is the largest Furry convention in the US, hit a record high earlier this year with 13,644 visitors.

Anthrocon CEO Samuel Conway, who is a Furry himself by the name of Uncle Kage, had long tried to protect the reputation of the community’s members – and to separate the Furries from reputational damage.

The documentary shared snippets of him adamantly persuading other Furries to proceed with caution when speaking to the media – telling them to ‘deflect’ and ‘not speak as individuals.’

He also expressed his outrage at Furries who have publicly shared the sexual elements of the subculture.

For example, the Furry known as Chew Fox and her mate, Tom Cat, from just outside of Seattle, Washington, had previously appeared on The Tyra Banks Show to discuss fur-suit sex.

Within hours of it airing, the couple were bombarded with online abuse from other members of the community who claimed she had ‘brought shame to the entire fandom for their own personal self gain.’

And, shortly afterwards, Conway himself branded Chew Fox as a ‘little f***ing b****.’

But there can be no doubt that there is a sexual element to the fandom.

In the Furry community 84 per cent identify as male, 13 per cent as female and 2.5 per cent as trans

Furries can range from those who use it as a ‘weekend release’ to others who consider it to be a lifestyle and ‘think in that mode’

The documentary reached out to an employee of Bad Dragon – an American manufacturer of ‘fantasy-themed sex toys, primarily targeted at members of the Furry fandom.’

The worker, who goes by Varka and describes himself as a c**ksmith, revealed a whole host of products offered by the company to meet the needs of the community.

And, from a further look at the company’s website, there are items available for most anthropomorphic desires including molds representing rabbits, werewolves and dragons.

But members were quick to express throughout that, like with any community, there were ‘extremes’ at both ends of the scale – and that not everyone had the same mindset and experience.

Furries can range from those who use it as a ‘weekend release’ to others who consider it to be a lifestyle and ‘think in that mode.’

But with fur suits costing anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000 – becoming a Furry is not for the faint-hearted.

The video insight followed another Furry’s bid to legally change their name to that of their persona.

Boomer The Dog, who wears a collar day-to-day, said that their fur-sona was inspired by the TV show Here’s Boomer, which ran from 1980 to 1982.

The Furry community has often been unhappy with their representation in popular culture including in shows such as in CSI: Fur And Loathing In Las Vegas (pictured) and 1,000 Ways To Die

Boomer The Dog, who wears a collar day-to-day, said that their fur-sona was inspired by the TV show Here’s Boomer which ran from 1980 to 1982

Sadly, Boomer’s (left) petition for a legal name change was denied – not before Anthrocon CEO Samuel Conway (right) expressed his unhappiness at their vocalness

The Furry, who also previously appeared on Dr Phil, said that when the series went off air they were keen to ‘keep the spirit alive’ and now states: ‘I like to think like I’m a dog, and I’m looking out at the world with canine-type of eyes and seeing things that way.’

Sadly, their petition for a legal name change was denied – but not before Conway also expressed his unhappiness at Boomer’s vocalness.

And, in a bid to discredit them, branded Boomer as ‘certifiably insane’ and a ‘nutcase.’

With infighting seemingly rife, one documentary participant, known as Quad, concluded: ‘A lot of other communities don’t really have the same problems that the Furry community does.

‘But I feel that a lot of the problems that the Furry community has are brought on by themselves – mainly trying to spin themselves in a good light when it not necessarily is.’

He continued: ‘I’m not saying that things are bad or wrong with the Furry community, but they’re certainly not portrayed real. It’s just what they want you to see….

‘If you just let things be it might be a nicer place, people might actually accept Furries for who they are.’

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