Furries Say They Aren’t A Fetish, They’re A Community, And They’re Ready To Be Taken Seriously
What does it mean to be a furry in 2014? An intimate look at the people ridiculed for their love of dressing up in furry animal costumes.

posted on Dec. 23, 2014, at 1:16 p.m.

Ryan Broderick
BuzzFeed News Reporter

Two weeks ago, guests at a Hyatt Hotel in suburban Chicago noticed a strange smell coming from the ninth floor. First responders discovered a high level of chlorine gas in the air. Hazardous materials technicians eventually found what appeared to be powdered chlorine in the stairwell, according to a police statement. The hotel was evacuated. Nineteen people had to be transported to nearby hospitals after complaining about nausea and dizziness.

The incident occurred while the Hyatt Hotel was hosting the 15th Annual Midwest FurFest, a yearly fan convention for people who identify as “furries,” a subculture that enjoys dressing up and roleplaying as large, anthropomorphic animals.

Hotel guests were given an all-clear from the police and were allowed to re-enter the hotel a few hours later, but not before local news affiliates showed up and filmed dozens of people in large furry animal suits prancing about on the sidewalk, playing in drum circles, cuddling up together for warmth, and taking selfies with police officers.

Police are investigating the incident as a possibly intentional chemical attack. And many in the furry community believe they were the targets. They’ve been around since the ’80s, but are still one of the most misunderstood American subcultures. They fit into the pantheon of other ridiculed and mistrusted fandoms like Juggalos, the face-painted fans of Insane Clown Posse, or Bronies, the largely adult male fans of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic.

Still, even today, these seemingly harmless oddballs are struggling to find acceptance; it doesn’t help that there have been some well-publicized sex scandals involving furries in the last few years. Furries themselves will tell you that there’s much more to their lifestyle, but beyond the animal costumes, what does it actually mean to be a furry?

Read more: BuzzFeed News