Surely during the lockdown, you've come across a story about a man dressed as a T-rex, standing in line at the supermarket or taking out the trash. Some thought it was an act of playfulness, others an act of excessive self-protection, if not provocation. Instead, I, a little dreamily, wondered: what if it was simply a misunderstood Furry Funter ? Get ready to discover a new, very unique and stigmatized subculture, one that deserves to be truly understood.
A subculture between online and offline
The Furry Funter subculture was born in the 1980s from a group of gamers, role-players, and artists at a science fiction convention. The foundation for this countercultural movement was laid by a discussion about Albedo Anthropomorphics , a comic book anthology drawn by Steve Gallacci, whose dramatic science fiction stories featured funny animals, or anthropomorphic animals.
From that moment on, Furry Funters began creating and discussing dedicated fanzines , until the advent of the internet saw a veritable explosion of the movement, complete with dedicated newsletters and forums. Not only that! In 2005, “ WikiFur ! The free furry encyclopedia” was even born, written by members of the subculture themselves and translated into 20 languages, to tell everything about them, from cartoons to comics, from games to gatherings around the world, such as the famous MidWest FurFest (MFF): the largest furry convention (abbreviated to “ furry con” or “ fur con” ) existing today. Held in Rosemont, near Chicago, the MFF is, in fact, one of the most important reference points for Furries, the largest opportunity for live confrontation, as well as performances, dance and breakdancing competitions, although the multiplication of its participants in recent years (reaching 12.000 in its last edition!) has also occurred, thanks to the arrival of many children accompanied by their parents, who learned about the gathering on TikTok or YouTube!
But who are the Furry Funters?
Furries are generally described as people who dress up as their favorite animals, wearing furry costumes . Yet, it's not just this aspect. Behind the choice of one's fursona , or alter ego, lies a much more complex process. It means, first of all, identifying with an animal or a mix of mammals, aquatic animals, or fantasy animals, with a character and personality to aspire to or be inspired by, with the goal of becoming different and better than one's "real self." Once the fursona has been chosen, the next step is to handcraft one's own costume, or commission one's own " fursuit " from expert designers and tailors, capable of creating true works of art from the chosen characters. An investment that for some represents a significant expense, while for others it ends up either in the simple creation of a virtual avatar to identify with in communities like Second Life, or simply in sharing drawings inspired by one's fursona.
A stereotypical subculture supported by the LGBTQ movement
Confused with Otherkin Therians due to their identification of their souls with that of some animal species, but also with Cosplayers due to their passion for dressing up, Furries are actually a subculture entirely unto themselves and, moreover, very often the victim of stereotypes and preconceptions about their sexuality . Indeed, they have been characterized by the media as problematic, perverse, and sex-obsessed, even described as horny bunnies constantly rubbing themselves against each other. They have been described as individuals suffering from plushophilia , a form of fetishism stemming from a sexual attraction to stuffed animals and therefore, also, to people dressed in furry costumes. Yet, while some may derive sexual pleasure from them, that's not the case. The process of stereotyping that has overwhelmed Furries is, in truth, much broader and concerns the LGBTQ world more generally. In fact, some studies have shown that two-thirds of Furries are homosexual, bisexual, and transgender, and that, in truth, they approached the Furry Funter subculture precisely for the opportunity to experiment and explore their gender identity in a community where, beneath their costume, all distinctions are completely erased and, indeed, judgment is suspended and absolute freedom takes over.
Perhaps, then, it would be time to change perspective, because the problem isn't who hides behind the fursona: the real point to reflect on is the reason that still pushes some people to wear a costume to facilitate their social interactions and their sexual orientation.
#pridemonth2020
" If there's not a rebellious youth culture, there's no culture at all. It's absolutely essential. It is the future ."
