By Mel Taylor- The Daily Examiner.
The LGBTQIA+ community are yet again, targeting children.
This time, it is via the support for the rise of Therians and Furries.
I recently spoke with a 9- and 10-year-old who both claimed to identify as a Therian, and although I had heard of Therians and Furries, I had no idea of just how many young people were being drawn towards it.
So, what is a Therian and how do they differ from a Furry?
Furries are individuals who have a fascination with fictional animal characters that possess human traits. They often dress up as these animals to express their creativity, engage in fandom, and participate in social activities. This behavior, while perplexing to some, can be seen as a concerning form of escapism that detracts from healthy, real-world interactions. Unlike Furries, Therians view their animal identity, known as their ‘Theriotype,’ as an integral part of who they are, which raises significant concerns about identity confusion and psychological well-being in children.
Furries do not identify as animals; rather, they enjoy dressing up as animals with human characteristics. On the other hand, Therians do not typically choose their Theriotype. This identity often emerges through deep self-reflection, dreams, or an overwhelming feeling of connection to a particular animal and its traits. For instance, a Therian who identifies with a wolf may experience strong instincts of loyalty, protectiveness, and a profound bond with nature. This self-identification process can be troubling, particularly for young impressionable minds, leading to potential issues with self-perception and social interactions.
There has been a noticeable rise in the awareness and presence of Therianthropy, particularly on social media and within schools.
Disturbingly, there are also parents out there fully supporting their child identifying as Therian, with their argument for it being that ‘at least children our outside, being active and participating in nature’.
Seriously?
Children can, and should be doing the above, without having to identify as part human and part animal?
Why can’t everyone just leave children to be children?
Most children, especially girls up until teenage years, love animals, love to dress up and love to role play. It’s a healthy and normal part of child development. Throughout history you can see the role-playing trends for children such as cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, parents and children, teachers and children and so on.
What deeply disturbs me is how the LGBTQIA+ community have jumped in and turned innocent children’s play into something much more dangerous, all the while fully supporting children identifying as anything other than boy, girl, man, woman, human.
A recent Therian and Furry meet in Auckland were held with the collaboration of Pride Fest Out West. It was advertised as a family friendly event. The majority who attended, dressed up in their animal outfits, were mainly children and teens. Over 130 people attended.
@puzzle.p4ws Fur FreNZy had over 130 attendees last Saturday! I’m still reeling over that- I expected maybe 20! HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and let me borrow their content for this video! :)) #puzzlep4ws #therianmeetnz #furmeetnz #FurfreNZy #nztherian #nzfurry
This phenomenon warrants a thoughtful and informed response from parents and communities to protect our children from adopting confusing and potentially harmful identities. We must ensure the guidance and well-being of our children as we navigate these complex and often bewildering trends.
