Like just about anything else one delves into, the subculture known as furries is more nuanced, more varied and less sensational than mass media depictions of them.
Furries are people who really like anthropomorphic depictions of animals. Sometimes they like them so much that they buy or make their own elaborate costumes, but others are quite content with online role playing or attending conventions. They like movies like Puss in Boots and Kung Fu Panda.
With the suit thing, they're pretty easy to send up in comedies like The Drew Carey Show or 30 Rock. And the fact that a fairly high percentage of them report some linkage of this hobby to their sexual identity makes them easy targets for shows like ER and CSI.
Back in 2012, two libraries struggled over the question about whether to have a policy banning furries in costume. Hear about all of this and more on today's show.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Leslie Lothstein - former Director of Psychology at the Institute of Living, and a lecturer of law & psychiatry at Yale University
- Bob Armstrong - 20 years in the furry fandom, and serves on the Anthrocon Board of Directors
- Stephanie Krus - Freelance illustrator
- “Grubbs” Grizzly - A furry in Palm Springs, California
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired on October 9, 2012.
