Cat litter boxes are suddenly a culture war flashpoint. Here's how that happened.

[Nevilledog]

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My @NBCNews colleagues and I spent the last month finding the root of America's hottest, dumbest urban legend:

Schools are leaving out litterboxes for kids who identify as furries.

Despite what Joe Rogan says, it's not true.

But its origins are grimmer than you'd ever imagine.

You have probably heard dozens of variations on the "litter boxes are in schools" lie.

You might have heard it from Joe Rogan, talking to Tulsi Gabbard, from his "friend's wife who works at a school."

Or maybe Lauren Boebert. Or maybe Marjorie Taylor Greene. It's everywhere.



If you didn't hear about the "litter boxes in school" rumor from a GOP politician, you probably heard it about your OWN town.

Facebook is filled with these lies, relocalizing the rumor to your town. There are examples on Facebook posts from almost every state in the the country.



So how did this happen? What's the first real instance of people talking about cat litter in schools?

Here's where it gets dark.

NBC News found one example of a school district keeping cat litter on campus.

The Jefferson County School District has had classrooms with cat litter since 2017, in case students are locked in a classroom during a shooting.

Jefferson County is where Columbine is located.

Cat litter was handed out in Columbine's school district for active shooter situations five years ago.

Since then, the "litter boxes in schools" rumor has evolved into a way to mock LGBTQ youth.

It's now being used as a culture war ammo by over 20 GOP politicians nationwide.



The data shows how the "litter boxes in schools" rumor that cannot die, mostly due to the incredulity of adults.

According to @graphika's Cristina Lopez G, kids on TikTok are creating videos mocking adults who believe in it wind up providing fodder for the oblivious on Facebook.



Here's the reality: We reached out to every school rumored to have a litter box.

We found one: in a "go bucket" for a possible mass shooting.

The rumor is a way to marginalize LGBTQ youth.

Here's our full story. It was a lot of work. I hope you read it:

Cat litter boxes are suddenly a culture war flashpoint. Here's how that happened.

At least 20 Republican politicians have claimed that schools are making accommodations for students who identify as cats. The school districts say these claims are untrue.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/urban-myth-litter-boxes-schools-became-gop-talking-point-rcna51439
• • •

How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/urban-myth-litter-boxes-schools-became-gop-talking-point-rcna51439

At a luncheon for Republican women in Mesa County, Colorado, last week, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., warned that educators “are putting litter boxes in schools for people who identify as cats.”

To a person not steeped in the culture war battles over gender identity that have engulfed school districts nationwide, it’s the kind of claim that would sound bizarre and confusing — and, from high-profile GOP members, authoritative.

The week before, on Sept. 29, Minnesota GOP gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen asked during a campaign stop, “Why do we have litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry?”

And during a legislative hearing last month in Tennessee, two Republican state lawmakers discussed the “growing crisis” of public schools providing litter boxes for children who identify as cats, and claimed it’s happening across the state.

At least 20 conservative candidates and elected officials have claimed this year that K-12 schools are placing litter boxes on campus or making other accommodations for students who identify as cats, according to an NBC News review of public statements.

*snip*

[jmowreader]

1. But...but...but...

What are the school's litter of emotional support cats supposed to do when THEY need to relieve themselves? Do they expect these brave little beasts to just shit in the hallway?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. The insane, radicalized Republican party does not want you talking about reality.

The insane, radicalized Republican party does not want you talking about public education, which they have been trying to destroy for decades.

The insane, radicalized Republican party does not want you talking about abortion rights, because of the cruel, extreme legislation they've rammed through in multiple states.

The insane, radicalized Republican party does not want you talking about their plans to eliminate Social Security and Medicare.

The insane, radicalized Republican party does not want you talking about their voter suppression laws and their attempts to replace voters' choices with selections by state legislatures.

Don't be distracted. Stay mad and GOTV.

Roe, Roe, Roe your vote
against theocracy!
Republicans revoke your rights
and kill democracy!

THESE are the races that will determine control of the House of Representatives:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217206774

Got post-its?
Stick 'em up for a blue wave: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217078977

[chowder66]

3. I'm so tired of stupid people using children and lies for their own disturbing motives.

[keithbvadu2]

4. Convince me that you are not lying. What specific schools?

Convince me that you are not lying.

What specific schools?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Republicans take the phrase, "How stupid can you get?" as a challenge.

[Mad_Machine76]

6. ...........

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[Nevilledog]

7. That's perfect!