We were introduced to our local furry community and learned that many of its members are both neurodivergent or LGBTQIA+, we wanted to explore this intersection of those searching for belonging and finding their people.
The main setting for this film is at Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, one of the largest furry conventions in the world. We met inspiring people who found acceptance and safety in the furry fandom, and we would like to follow them in their home states to capture their everyday lives.
“Denied companionship by our peers. We turned to the next best thing we had. We turned to the happy, smiling, accepting faces of the cartoon characters we saw on Saturday mornings. Who are we? We are adults who never forgot our old friends,” said Dr. Conway, Anthrocon's top furry and CEO.
We are raising funds for these travel costs, along with funds to cover editing, coloring, and finishing of the film.
Take “Tank” the lion, the fursona or furry avatar for Gabriel, a 20-year-old transgender man from Orlando, Florida, where the Governor just banned gender-affirming care. In a lion costume, Gabriel began to explore his masculinity in ways his family couldn’t accept. In his words, he found his roar.
“It’s scary being a transgender man living in Florida. It’s a terrifying thought that my life is in danger. Being a furry is an escape. I can be a strong lion and then change and fight for my life and fight for my pride at the same that lions can,” said Tank.
This story is important to us because of our own children.
Ben: As the parent of three queer kids, including a transgender son, I am inspired by the inclusive, accepting world furries have provided for so many.
Lindsey: My son is on the autism spectrum, and also has ADHD and anxiety. He is a dreamer at heart and has expanded my heart and rebuilt me from the inside out. He teaches me about new worlds and how to accept others exactly as they are.
