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Historical debates

Furries at San Francisco Pride 2013

Your rating: None Average: 4.4 (12 votes)

A historic U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage created intense emotions and record crowds at San Francisco's 2013 Pride celebration. I was informally told the parade drew 1.5 million. Imagine pushing through them in the hot sun with inch thick fur on!

Video by Mallius
For dozens of local furs, the great fun and positive vibes of Pride 2012 were small compared to this year's enthusiastic turnout. If it grows as much in 2014, it'll be awesome to see.

Anthropomorphic Research Project launches 3-year study

Your rating: None Average: 4.6 (5 votes)

International Anthropomorphic Research Project logoThe Anthropomorphic Research Project has released a new survey – the first in a series intended to cover the same people every February, June, and October over three years.

Participants (who must be 18 or older) may enter a drawing to win a $50 Amazon.com certificate for each survey completed.

Questions will vary between each survey, but will generally pertain to different aspects of furry culture, sexual orientation, personality, well-being, recreational/fantasy activities, and attitudes/beliefs about topical issues (e.g. religion, politics).

The ARP has previously used surveys to distinguish furries from therians and otherkin, identify personality differences between non-furs, furries and their fursonas, and characterise the relationship between furries and bronies.

Dragoneer's Dorsai complaints spark FurFright spat

Your rating: None Average: 4 (11 votes)

October saw up to 1500 furs converge on Cromwell, Connecticut for annual Halloween-themed furry convention FurFright. However, the event was marred by controversial reports about the actions of the Dorsai Irregulars security staff.
Dorsai Irregulars logo
On 28 October, Dragoneer declared he would not return to FurFright until the Dorsai's removal, citing complaints about their behaviour ranging from minor, unprofessional annoyances to threats of having him arrested.

I'm done. I'm done with this. Furfright is (was?) my go-to convention. I love this con, and I love the staff, but the security have overstepped their bound year after year, and I'm done with it. I've brought up these issues every year for the past five years to the convention and nothing has ever happened. Hell, I've even been told the Dorsai are not to SPEAK to me unless they went through certain Furfright staff first due to the shit that happened in previous years.

Dragoneer's sentiments were echoed by his fiancée, Sciggles, and Silver/ThatDamnWolf – a member of FurFright staff who subsequently resigned, saying he is unlikely to return even if the Dorsai are removed. A petition to this end had gained 266 signatures as of 5 November.

Ohio man releases exotic animals into wild before suicide

Your rating: None Average: 3.8 (11 votes)

Terry Thompson, released from prison a few weeks ago on gun possession charges and still under house arrest, released his 56 exotic pets into the wilds of Ohio before killing himself. The irresponsible action of the owner resulted in the death of 49 animals; a monkey remains on the lam, while the other six were captured and are to be placed into local zoos.

The final count of animal life taken was six black bears, two grizzly bears, nine male lions, eight lionesses, one baboon, three mountain lions, 18 tigers and two wolves.

Documentary review: 'Fanboy Confessional'

Your rating: None Average: 4.5 (8 votes)

Fanboy Confessional: The Furry Edition by Markham Street Films is a very good, well-balanced, objective and positive review of furry fandom.

Furocity staff 'joining forces' with Fur Affinity

Your rating: None Average: 5 (4 votes)

Fur Affinity and Furocity owners Dragoneer and Gavin Daemonshyai have announced plans to share staff and resources between the two sites.

The two owners have worked together on FA: United, and according to Dragoneer they will "share responsibilities of the sites as equals (co-owners)", with Gavin's team bringing "coding expertise" and "improved administrative structure and coordination" to FA.

Gavin explained that while "the sites themselves are staying completely separate" (accounts will not be merged), Fur Affinity is gaining administrators and programming staff to implement requested improvements, such as the delayed summer update.

Fur Affinity also added a 12TB disk array this week, after running out of space for work.

Denver filmmakers seek funding for movie with furry subplot

Your rating: None Average: 3.8 (5 votes)

Gaylord Street Films, a small film-production company in Denver, Colorado, is seeking funding for a new film-noir project.

And the script features furries.

Furries to feature on 'OMG! With Peaches Geldof'

Your rating: None Average: 4 (5 votes)

Last Wednesday (March 2) saw the premier of OMG! With Peaches Geldof, a tabloid-style television program hosted by British model Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof.

The program, airing on Wednesdays at 9pm on the UK's ITV2, is about "people who live unique and often shocking lifestyles - Who are they? What makes them tick? Why do they live the way they do and is it causing them problems or a rewarding way to be?".

Episode 1 featured vampires and internet dating. Episode 2, to air next Wednesday (March 9), is to feature Furries, described in the OMG! episode guide as "people who have a strong appreciation for anthropomorphic animal characters and dress accordingly". The episode also features guest panelist Dom Joly, who Peaches described as "quite an embittered man".

OMG! With Peaches Geldof had previously contacted furries as part of their research phase. The interview is the subject of several threads on the UKFur forums (registration required).

How important to you are the 'adult' aspects of furry fandom?

The only thing that matters
3% (9 votes)
The most important part
3% (10 votes)
One of many things I like about furrydom
57% (163 votes)
Not very much but some
12% (34 votes)
Not for me but others are welcome to it
13% (37 votes)
I wish it didn't exist
12% (33 votes)
Votes: 286

How much would you be willing to pay per month for Furnation-like web hosting?

$3
8% (7 votes)
$5
8% (7 votes)
$10
9% (8 votes)
$15
1% (1 vote)
$20
8% (7 votes)
Nothing, I want it free
30% (26 votes)
Nothing, I don't want/need a website
35% (30 votes)
Votes: 86