Similarly, roughly 35% of furries claim that they feel less than 100% human, with 94.3% of those particular furries clarifying that they feel non-human mentally (only 13% feel this way physically).Īssuming some portion of these furries not only identify as a part of the furry community, but also consider that identity an immutable aspect of themselves, what differentiates them from any other person who self-identifies as queer? If the distinction is social acceptability, that's what LGBTQIA communities seek to destigmatize in the first place.
Their studies have revealed all sorts of fascinating sociological trends amongst furries, but perhaps most interesting is the fact that over 35% of furries do not view being a furry as a choice. The International Anthropomorphic Research Project is a research initiative exploring the psychological, anthropological, and sociological elements of furrydom. In light of this fact, the inclusion of furries under the LGBTQIA banner makes a lot of sense. The most prominent commonality across all LGBTQIA identifiers is a deviation from "the norm" in relation to identity, usually coupled with a desire for cultural acceptance. For instance, a biological woman who identifies as masculine but not necessarily transgender might simply call herself queer as shorthand. Most people who self-identify as queer do so because the other LGBTQIA terms don't accurately reflect the intricacies of their gender identities or sexual orientations. In the LGBTQIA community, " Queer" is the most open term, applying to many different elements of identity that don't conform to the dominant binary narrative. But for the portion of furries who genuinely identify as their "fursonas"––alternative furry identities––perhaps that should be grounds for inclusion. Of course, participating in a community largely populated by LGBTQIA people doesn't necessarily make someone LGBTQIA. As such, it's clear that furry communities have a lot of crossover with LGBTQIA spaces––most LGBTQIA people aren't furries, but most furries are LGBTQIA. Moreover, at least 10% of furries identify as transgender. The furry community itself is most certainly a safe space for LGBTQIA-identifying people: Nearly 80% of furries identify with a sexual orientation other than hetero. For conversation purposes, however, we'll be focusing on the latter group of furries, specifically those who view their furrydom as a core aspect of their identity. This is an important distinction to make in the discussion of LGBTQIA inclusion––the former group really are just fans of a specific art form or culture. For some, their only interest is the art, storytelling, or crafting involved in the community, but for others there's a strong sexual or identitarian element to their involvement. While furries aren't necessarily a rare sight at pride parades, their inclusion within the larger banner of LGBTQIA identity remains contentious.īefore moving forward, let's get a core clarification out of the way: The furry community encompasses anthropomorphic animal enthusiasts of all types.