A private school in Australia is reportedly supporting a young "non-verbal" student identifying as a cat. The behaviour is often linked to a "furries" subculture being adopted by many teens, where many furries feel a deep connection to a particular animal that they take on their "fursona", according to Gerbasi et al. A source close to the family said: "No one seems to have a protocol for students identifying as animals, but the approach has been that if it doesn’t disrupt the school, everyone is being supportive," "The behaviour is being normalised. Now more and more people are identifying as whatever they want to identify with, including 'furries'." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The Melbourne school's approach to mental health "is always unique to the student and will take into account professional advice and the wellbeing of the student". Many Gen-Zers have taken on the subculture with an interest in anthropomorphised animals. On TikTok alone, the hashtag brings people eccentric costumes called "fursuits." Some wear head-to-toe outfits, while others wear the mask. Sharon Roberts, associate professor of social development studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, told ABC the subculture is becoming increasingly popular because of its safe and non-judgemental community. "They're usually imbued with positive attributes, and they're often idealised versions of the self," she said. "What the research has shown is that these self-created identities have incredible benefits to the person in all kinds of ways." She said, "about 20 to 25 per cent of furries have fur suits." "They might have ears or tails or wear a dog collar, but a lot of furries don't wear anything like that at all," she added. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The teacher gave out 'LGBTQ paraphernalia such as toys, flags, and other swag' to students who 'came out' as transgender

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As Burning Man attendees are left stranded in the Nevada desert due to heavy rain and mud, everyone has been weighing in on the situation. Including Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Appearing on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Info Wars show on Sunday night, she said “well, you know, God has a way of making sure everyone knows who God is.” The comment was made after Jones referenced the “mock sacrifice”, where festivalgoers set fire to a large wooden structure dubbed “The Man.” It seems Greene is suggesting the weather conditions are an act of God, as punishment for their “sacrifice”. Green continued: “There’s 73-75,000 in the Nevada desert right now at this Burning Man. They’re locked in. They’re not allowed to leave and they’re basically probably being brainwashed that climate change is the cause of it and it’s going to destroy the Earth. "And there, they’re feeling the panic. So, what’s going to happen, Alex?” The congresswoman continued with her rant, predicting that when attendees returned home they would spread stories about climate change. “It’s the Left’s new lie they’re going to put on the American people and try to get everyone behind [it],” she claimed. “This is what they’re brainwashing people to believe.” “I totally agree,” Jones interjected. Greene wasn’t the only one to suggest the weather was an act of God. Andrew Torba, founder of Gab, a fringe social media platform, wrote on Twitter/X: “Wow God unleashed a plague and a flood of rain over the satanic ritual “burning man” in the desert that all of the elites attend? You don’t say.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Josh Kelly had three touchdown receptions, Cameron Ward passed for 404 yards and accounted for five scores, and No. 21 Washington State withstood a late rally to upend No. 14 Oregon State 38-35 in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams

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A retired university dean was found shot in the head on a hiking trail near the Vermont State University Castleton Campus where she'd worked, and authorities are searching for whoever killed the beloved educator.