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Dear Papabear,

Since I was about 7 years old, I've felt like I wasn't a girl. When I tried talking to my dad about it, he told me not to listen to how I feel. At first, I thought I wanted to be a boy, but 3 years ago I discovered the term non-binary and only came out about a month ago. I only told my mom and best friend, and while my best friend has been super supportive, my mom seems a bit uncomfortable. I told her she could continue to call me "she" and her "daughter" to make her more comfortable, but it doesn't feel right. I want her to call me "they," but I don't want her to feel weird. Me and her have always loved drag queens, and she has always told me if I ever turned out to be gay she would be supportive, so it confuses me a bit to know she's uncomfortable with me being non-binary. Do you have any idea why she might feel this way and what I could do to make her feel better?

Hugs,
Hijinkx the Cataroo (13)

* * *

Dear Hijinkx,

First of all, your father's advice to not listen to how you feel is absolutely THE WORST advice he could possibly give you. So, do not listen to him on this point. As for your mother, at least she is trying to be sympathetic to you. I think she is uncomfortable about the non-binary term because she doesn't really understand what that is.  She can comprehend homosexuality, but, let's face it, lately, there has been a lot of research and terms being flung around by the scientific and LGBTQI+ community that can be very confusing to most people. This page https://www.healthline.com/health/different-types-of-sexuality lists 46 terms that describe sexuality, gender, and orientation, for example, and there are actually even more than that.

What's going on here is that science, in recognizing that human sexuality and gender are very complex, is attempting to define all the various possibilities. Many people find this helpful because there is a sense of relief when one feels that one's personal feelings have been validated scientifically. But for those who are just plain-old heterosexual, white bread, and socially "normal," it can muddle the issue more than it clarifies it. I mean, throw around terms like cisgender, skoliosexual, demisexual, etc., and you are gonna get a blank stare. So many definitions can give one a headache and make one just want to tune it all out.

But just as this terminology can take some time and study to comprehend, so is your own sexuality coming into definition. At 13, you are still undergoing many changes, and you are still figuring things out. You are making a lot of progress and you definitely have resolved the fact that you don't feel like a girl even though that is what you are genetically. But now you are working toward what exactly that means and what variations of that apply to you, as well as how are you going to deal with it. This is an extremely personal voyage that only you can travel, although it helps when you have support from family and friends, people who can hold your hand.

What I am saying is this: Do not rush too quickly into defining yourself. You are only 13, and you are going to be developing physically, mentally, and emotionally for years to come still. And, just as you should not push yourself to the finish line too quickly (the finish line will just move farther ahead anyway), you should not push your parents too hard, either. Do not insist on them using the "they" pronoun yet. To them, you are their daughter, and that is a lot of responsibility in and of itself. Let them call you by whatever they are comfortable with. It is not an important issue right now. What is important is that you continue to explore your own feelings (and ignore parents who say ignore your feelings). This is not to say don't talk to your parents! TALK to them. But don't insist on anything. Just be honest about how you feel and don't put a label on it. Labels can be limiting anyway. If your mother can deal with this best by just thinking of you as being gay, then let her for now, even if she is not being accurate. If your father can't grasp your complex identity just yet, then let him just think of you as his daughter.

While this is all very much about you, it is also about your parents and their feelings. Try to be as sympathetic to what they are going through as you would like them to be about what you are going through. Do you understand? This is a process that will take many years. Do not expect instant results or instant sympathy and understanding. Take your time and be patient with them. And count yourself lucky that at least your parents are there for you, even though they are struggling to understand you. 

And remember: we are more than just our sexuality and gender. We are complex beings of mind, spirit, and body. Your sexuality and gender are just one aspect of a complex human being--do not neglect the other aspects of yourself while you evolve as a person, and do not keep your parents from appreciating those other aspects as they strive to raise their child. Let them into your life without being insistent on what is just one part of you. Don't hide it, but don't bludgeon them with it, if you get my drift.

Let me know if you have any further questions. 

Big Bear Hugs,
Papabear

点击此，读中文报道 As more physical furcons cancel due to the pandemic, the trend of online events, as well as their contributions to society rises. Furvana, a furcon based in the US state of Washington (not to be confused with the US capital city Washington D.C.), is one of the latest events to do so. On Sept. […]

This week: Savrin and Fuzz talk about gender reveals, restaurants going under, eating the pope, Savrin gushes about Control, the gamers are weirdly upset, and no thanks to bikers. 

Thanks for supporting us on Patreon, you rock~

LINKS PCGamer Pope vore - https://www.pcgamer.com/this-crusader-kings-3-player-ate-the-pope/ Telegram fan chat- https://t.me/joinchat/CGL2Zj9oiYOXuQPOJXOrsg 

            Episode 474 - Gender Reveal Apocalypse - This week: Savrin and Fuzz talk about gender reveals, restaurants going under, eating the pope, Savrin gushes about Control, the gamers are weirdly upset, and no thanks to bikers.  Thanks for supporting us on Patre

And another “ridiculously cute” (to quote one critic) full-color graphic novel for young readers: Bunbun & Bonbon, Volume 1 — Fancy Friends, written and illustrated by Jess Keating. “Bunbun has it all: a delightful Bunbun nose, a winning Bunbun smile, a ridiculously cute Bunbun tail, and not one, but two adorable Bunbun ears. But Bunbun doesn’t have a friend — until Bunbun meets Bonbon. Learning how to be fancy and eating donuts for lunch are two of the duo’s many adventures in this irresistible young graphic novel by acclaimed author and illustrator Jess Keating. Hop hop hooray!” Previews has more.

image c. 2020 Scholastic

The chaos you asked for.

FurCast is sponsored by Twin Tail Creations. Use coupon codes REDWOLF or BLUEFOX to save up to 20% on silicone products during checkout. Free FurCast Themed Colorations are also available which can be applied as a color choice to your toy purchase.

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Link Roundup:

• ANE 2021 Canceled
• Anthro Northwest 2021 Canceled
• “No cock like horsecock” played at a protest
  • Tweet 1
  • Tweet 2
  • Tweet 3
• New furry NES game called “NIX”
• Roundup of recent furry charity events
• Toonami BLM Speech
• The Stranger article on FurScience
• Furry Film Festival says one month left to submit
• Man wants to rename boneless chicken wings
• Facerig name changing to Animaze
• Old Furpock hotel is actually abandoned now
• Code Lyoko going on Netflix in France
  • English YouTube channel
• Furality Online Xperience – Nov 6-8
• Furaffinity Server Move
  • Postmortem Journal
• Wolfwalkers Film Trailer on Apple TV+
• Hiyu’s VRChat Unity avatar is now available to modify
• Arpaio Trolled by Furries
  • The Cut article

News:

• Can cats have an existential crisis?
• Dr. Phil asks people to stop calling him Daddy
• HOW THE ‘SONIC THE HEDGEHOG’ DROWNING MUSIC TRAUMATIZED A GENERATION

[Live] To Be Faire

MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!

This week we are honored to have Fox Amoore from Foxes and Peppers as our guest. He talks with us about the making of the video Come Find Me, and Dream Catcher as well as many other aspects of his fascinating life.  We learn a bit about Nuns, Hobbits and Johnny Cash. Flatland is discussed, the 3rd, 4th and 5th dimensions make an appearance along with the IARP. Do Leprechauns and Elves share a common ancestry?  Find out all this and more with Taebyn and Bearly on this very special 20th episode!

Support the show

Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.

You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com

Bearly Furcasting #20 - Fox Amoore from Foxes and Peppers, General mayhem!

And more new stuff from MacMillan Publishing. Dungeon Critters is a new full-color fantasy graphic novel written by Natalie Riess and illustrated by Sara Goetter. “Join the Dungeon Critters — a tight-knit squad of animal companions — on a wild adventure investigating a sinister botanical conspiracy among the furry nobility. As they risk their lives traveling through haunted dungeons, swamps, and high society balls — they also come closer together as friends. Motivated by rivalries, ideals, and a lust for adventure, these critters navigate not only perils and dangers of the natural world, but also perils and dangers…of the heart!” MacMillan has preview pages on line. Look for it later this month.

image c. 2020 First Second

Dear Papa Bear,

I'm writing to you because you've helped me out multiple times while I was a teenager, and it just felt nice to come to you for advice once more as an adult! So for that, let's start this off with a thank you.

So, the TLDR of my situation is that my parents divorced. Dad retired from the army, kicked me out. My mom helped me move to California, where I had a lot more job opportunities. Mom is moving back with her bf in January, and I'm planning on leaving California. They (half) joke about you needing to make $30/h or higher to live here on your own haha. It's just a bit too expensive for my taste.

So when January comes, I'm hoping to go to Kansas, but I'm unsure, actually. It'll be my first time on my own. I was always planning on moving out but so many things in life kept happening that my plans kept suddenly changing.

When it comes to that time, do you have any advice on moving out on your own? How much money should I have saved up? What things should I do to make sure it goes smoothly? Advice on getting an apartment for the first time?

Sorry that this is a big question. It's been weighing on my mind a lot lately.

Anonrat

* * *

Dear Anonrat,

Welcome back. It's weird, this column has been going on for about 8 years now and, yes, some original letter writers who were teens back then are now adults. How fast you grow up!

Depending where you live in California, you need to make more or less money. For example, it's much cheaper to live in the Central Valley than in a coastal city, but I get what you're saying.

Moving across the country is a really complicated and involved process, and I could write a book on just how to do that. Really, too much to say for this little column of mine. But I can give you a few pointers:

• Have a job in your new location BEFORE you move; otherwise, it could be an expensive disaster in which you spend a lot of time and money and end up moving back to where you started. This is critical. Don't just up and move without a plan. If you need to, find a temporary place to stay while you job hunt. 
• How much money should you save? As much as you possibly can. There are too many factors to say. If you can save up a lot of money--enough to cover expenses while you job hunt--then good for you. If you already have a job waiting for you, then all you will need is enough to cover travel expenses and, say, at least two-months' rent and deposit money.
• Finding an apartment: it helps if you know people out there who have an apartment and then you can ask them if they like where they are living. I didn't know anyone out here in the valley before I moved and ended up in a shitty apartment. Fortunately, I only lived there a year before getting a house. Barring personal contacts, try a ratings site such as https://www.apartmentratings.com/ks/ to help you gauge which places are run well and in your price range.
• When moving, try to move as few things as possible. Moving trucks and companies for cross-country are pricey, so if you don't have a lot of furniture etc., try to pack everything in your car and go. If you have some old furniture and stuff, I would advise selling it and buying new when you arrive. If you have too much stuff to fit in your car, consider boxing some of it up and mailing it to your destination.
• Get to know where you are going--in your case, Kansas. Here is a helpful guide https://www.greatguyslongdistancemovers.com/moving-to/kansas/

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Papabear

Not all media is created equal. The furry kind is best of course! But furry fandom gets damaged by protesting against “the media” every time a journalist starts on a good story that might not push good PR. PBS isn’t the National Enquirer. Sometimes knowledge is power or sometimes exploiters have less noble intentions… results vary, just be informed. Here’s Joe Strike, a journalist who is no stranger to working professionally in the media. He submitted this story based on contact he got as author of Furry Nation, the furry fandom history book. (- Patch)

September 6 2020
Joe Strike
joestrike@gmail.com

I received the following email last week:

My name is Joe Pinzone and I am casting a TV show for MTV called “Ghosted.”

We’re currently casting people who have been ghosted or have ghosted someone important in their lives due to people not understanding cosplaying/furries. I know that you wrote a book about it and was hoping you could spread the word by reposting the below notice. If you have questions, please let me know.

Did a friend, relative, or lover ghost you because of your love for dressing up as a furry or did you ghost someone who didn’t understand Furries?

Sharp Entertainment are now casting people 18-34 nationwide, who are ready to find or give answers, and share their story with the world.

Please send pictures, contact info & a short description of the ghosting in your life ASAP to: ghostedtvcasting@gmail.com

FINAL CAST APPROVED BY THE NETWORK WILL RECEIVE PAYMENT. NO TRAVEL REQUIRED. NON UNION—-

Joe Pinzone
Facebook casting page
LinkedIn Profile

Here’s my response to Joe P:

Personally, I’ve never been ghosted or ghosted anyone. I’ll relay your message to a few furry websites & message boards – with a proviso.

Even though the media has been treating Furry better and more accurately in recent years we’ve been burned many times in the past, depicted as strictly a kink scene for weirdos and losers. MTV has been guilty of this more than once, particularly with a segment that ran on your Sex2K program.

Several years ago I was invited to appear on Oddville. Even though producer Rich Brown assured me I’d be treated with respect, it was obvious from the show’s title they were looking for “oddballs” and weirdos to mock. (I never watched the show so I have no idea if any fursuiters ever appeared.)

When I forward your message I’ll remind people of these incidents and suggest they proceed with caution; if any furs contact you, I hope you will honestly reassure them Ghosted isn’t another Oddville.

(Joe’s response to my Email:)

Thanks! I don’t think we would be going for what they did with Sex2K, that seems a long time ago. But I appreciate you spreading the word.

Okay, here’s that proviso I mentioned above:

Joe P. is an independent casting agent. Apart from helping the production company find ghosts and ghosters, as far as I know he’s not involved with the show itself or MTV. In the meantime, here’s a link to Sharp Entertainment’s IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0135664

You can decide for yourself if you want to be in a show produced by the creators of Marrying Millions, Love After Lockup or 90 Day Fiancé. However, Sharp Entertainment’s IMDB page has a link to already produced episodes of Ghosted: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9179640/episodes?season=1&ref_=tt_eps_sn_1 The episode descriptions don’t sound particularly exploitative, more soap-opera-ish and seemingly sympathetic to the people in the episodes. (Having never seen the show I don’t know how in fact the show actually presented the people involved.) The episode descriptions might be helpful to anyone who considers giving it a chance.

Links to Joe P’s facebook and LinkedIn pages are in his original message. Good luck – and don’t forget us little people when you’re a big-time celebrity!

Like the article? These take hard work. For more free furry news, please follow on Twitter or support not-for-profit Dogpatch Press on Patreon. Want to get involved? Use these subreddits: r/furrydiscuss for anything — or r/waginheaven for the best of the community. Or send guest writing here. (Content Policy.)

Resources, Social Media & Donation Links
Follow Verse
Check Out UDTJ
Join Rhyner’s Telegram Channel

On September 6th I sat down with Verse a black furry, and avid black lives matter activist who has attended several protests. Through our conversation we discuss why the protests are happening, what led him to being radicalized, and how the gap in the furry community can be mended. It's eye opening to see how things like this can affect someone no matter what their background is or the walk of life they took. He protests with a small organization that has managed to gather speakers and amass crowds of people. 

He shows those out there that thinks their voice doesn't matter that they can make a change. 

We're all tied together in one way or another. 

Thanks for listening! 

Support the show

Interview With Verse - BLM Protests, Political Canvassing, & Civil Unrest

For a while now we’ve been hearing about the new film out of Tomm Moore and Cartoon Saloon, the folks who brought us Song of the Sea. Well now Wolfwalkers has a brand new trailer — and an upcoming release on Apple TV. “In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.” Looks as if the release is going to be complicated. Furry.Today has the trailer and more info.

image c. 2020 Cartoon Saloon

James Lovell Thompson, AKA Keanu the Red Panda, was formerly known for representing the Anthro Southeast furry convention before a series of disgraces. In March 2020, Keanu spread bogus health info about the Covid-19 pandemic. He was accused of doing it with claims of a PhD. degree he doesn’t have.

Degree fraud (pretending to have credentials and authority) is often seen with professional cheating, lying on resumes, gaining licenses without merit, medical quack scams, identity theft, and other crime. It’s like stolen valor for academics. It damages trust and safety for victims, organizations and communities.

In response to the accusation, Keanu dropped out of social media activity for months, only to re-emerge with an elaborate defense. Keanu put out a video that repeats his PhD. claim while he shows off a diploma that is not genuine. Proof is in this Google doc, newly shared after months of seeking evidence.

Keanu Red Panda’s “Microbiology PhD.” — 8 reasons the diploma is fake.

 

This is a record correction story that’s already known to many witnesses in the background, including powerful voices in the furry fandom. Along with their input, witnesses from outside the fandom reached out on their own to dispute Keanu’s story of earning a PhD. (He also claimed to be on a school board of directors or trustees, which no school has supported.) Employees were consulted at schools that he named. There is confidentiality for many sources, but the most powerful case against Keanu comes from his own response.

Keanu’s defense video decorates the fake diploma with a lot of emotional storytelling and counter-accusations. That’s a lot of effort to fool the public and grab sympathy. However, buying a fake diploma takes no effort at all.

Anyone who wants to do degree fraud can use a place like this.

Using a fursona name is a good courtesy for reporting furry news. So is keeping confidentiality for sources. However, when a fursona gets used to hide cheating, including with identity itself, then good reporting can’t assist the misuse of privacy. If furries want to be trusted as harmless role-players with nothing to hide, then anyone who enjoys using a fursona can ask James Lovell Thompson to correct the deceptive claims he made as Keanu.

While showing a fake diploma, Keanu has blocked or attacked people who tried to get responses. Outreach by Dogpatch Press went unanswered. He should make an updated statement about his repeated efforts to get away with deception. Until he does, can anyone trust ANYTHING he says?

1) @AnthroSouthEast, alert about a triple disaster caused by the con vice-chair @Keanu_Red_Panda. There's public safety risk of misinforming about coronavirus, misusing authority for it, and even apparent fraud claim of pretending to be a PhD. UNREAL!! (Thanks @BarleyBorks) pic.twitter.com/WEkbdk2stu

— Con Staff Watch (@ConStaffWatch) March 15, 2020

Degree fraud by a leader makes distrust in what they represent, and cheats ones with real credentials. What if @Keanu_Red_Panda lies about con security? @Unclekage@DuncanDaHusky what does the FCLR think?

PhD claim: https://t.co/tfwmjpspzc
Cost of fraud: https://t.co/aTvRWJRGJk

— Con Staff Watch (@ConStaffWatch) March 16, 2020

(2/2) The remaining chairs, Daiba (Head Chair) and Tigsy (Vice Chair), want to make it clear that we and ASE do not share his views or condone what he has said. We're always working hard on improving our con and want to make it a safe and welcoming place for all of our attendees

— Anthro SouthEast (@AnthroSouthEast) June 18, 2020

Like the article? These take hard work. For more free furry news, please follow on Twitter or support not-for-profit Dogpatch Press on Patreon. Want to get involved? Use these subreddits: r/furrydiscuss for anything — or r/waginheaven for the best of the community. Or send guest writing here. (Content Policy.)

夏季逐漸進入尾聲，我們的夏日祭典也即將進入倒數了。不知道各獸在這幾個月間有沒有好好的體驗一下夏天的美好呢？今天皓然要為各獸帶來的，是由 壞虎（虎虎壞壞 Badtiger）所投稿的作品！看著這清涼的畫面，告獸是不是也跟著清涼了起來呢？就讓我們一起欣賞壞虎帶來的作品吧！

作者：壞虎

今天的投稿非常的特別，風格與先前的作品大不相同！這次皓然要帶給大家的，是由筍干爆炸所繪製的作品！看著作者筆下生動可愛的主角，皓然我都感覺到內心的小鹿在到處亂撞了呢(?)就讓我們一起欣賞筍干爆炸的作品吧！

作者：筍干爆炸

“Brought to you by the New York Times bestselling author of the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series!” Now there’s a fact you’re not going to hear very often, are you? It’s Agent Moose, a new full color graphic novel for young readers written by Mo O’Hara and illustrated by Jess Bradley. “Agent Moose, the best (worst) secret agent in the Big Forest, and his slightly-more-intelligent sidekick Owlfred are on the case in this new full color graphic novel chapter book series… Something fishy is going on at the South Shore. Folks just disappear and are never seen again. But when Agent Moose learns that a key witness has gone missing, he and Owlfred ride to the rescue. Will they find the missing turtle before time runs out?” Find out more over at MacMillan Publishers.

image c. 2020 Feiwel & Friends

They’re still a thing, and they just keep getting stranger. This we got from Animation World Network: “Rovio Entertainment has released the first season of Angry Birds Bubble Trouble, a bite-sized 3D-animated series where the young Angry Birds flock – Red, Bomb, Chuck, Stella and Silver – let their imaginations ‘go wild’ in their bubble garden. They play games and solve problems together, while getting into all kinds of trouble.” The first season of 1-minute animated shorts is up now on Amazon FreeTime Unlimited. The AWN article includes an introductory video, which shows just how odd this series can be!

image c. 2020 Rovio Entertainment

This week on Southpaws, god we're old. This episode mainly focuses on the happenings at FurryLife Online, a not-new platform that is the FA KILLER of the month until everyone goes back. It's chock full of questionable lines, odd attempted exclusions, and policy holes big enough to fly a giant dragon through.

Also RIP Chadwick Boseman. Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Southpawscast 

Links- MDC: https://twitter.com/miniondeathcult/status/1300977662735728640 Telegram fan chat: https://t.me/joinchat/CGL2Zj9oiYOXuQPOJXOrsg

Episode 473 - The Spine Line - This week on Southpaws, god we're old.This episode mainly focuses on the happenings at FurryLife Online, a not-new platform that is the FA KILLER of the month until everyone goes back. It's chock full of questionable lines,

MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!

This week we interview Renegade Roo. We learn some random animal facts, Taebyn graces us with information about the hairy ball theorem and storytime gets a little out of hand. Come spend an hour with Bearly and Taebyn. It's the best way to spend an hour of your day!

Support the show

Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.

You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com

Bearly Furcasting #19 - Renegade Roo, Animal Facts, Hairy Ball Theorem, and Barnyard Language

今天的作品很特別哦，是由德羅布狐狸（德 羅 布）帶來、以影片的方式來呈現給大家。看著窗外平靜的水面、小船的倒影以及一旁陰涼的角落中正檢查著相片的獸，著實地帶給人恬靜悠閒的感覺呢！尤其是在加上音樂中溫柔的歌聲、鋼琴與Vibraphone交錯的陪襯更顯得夏日午後這種慢悠悠的步調，就讓我們打開聲音，一起伴隨著音樂身歷其境進入這幅令人放鬆的作品中吧～

作者：德羅布狐狸