BC Furries

Over the past few years while roaming the fathom it appears that most members pursue a lifestyle to be homosexual. The question why this is. Why are most people that like furry related topics tend to have same sex partners or at least favor intimacy with individuals of their own gender. There are ittle facts, though some research has been made.
Aside from research made, one possible theory is that both furry fathom and homosexuality is a minority in today's society, though being discriminated may be going too far. But how many have received an outcry from relatives and friends when they took up the courage to come out of the closet? You may expect a rejecting reaction from your relatives and friends when they hear of your interest in anthropomorphism. Though this also has to do with lack of education or misconception people have, for they think you love animals (it can get associated with the b-word for instance).
So why, in a simple fashion, not conclude that these two elements most of us feel connected to, or the lifestyle we pursue, find each other because they are being rejected by main stream society?
Input and opinion is always welcome.

It's kinda interesting that I just finish typing this post when we are in the midst of pride week. So let's go out there and show our colorful furs with pride (http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/Neko_Akumu1989/MyFurryGayPride.jpg)!

In my case I was furry before I was gay, it was some of the nice guys (okay and the porn lol) that made me more open to the idea of a same sex relationship and to this day I am glad that's how I turned out.

Now as for why there seems to be such a large gay population in the fandom... I wish I had a solid answer for that one. The closest thing I can really say is that with gay people generally being more open minded and already part of something modern society still considers taboo, furry doesn't seem like such a big deal. For some its probably like "hey animals, fun!".  heck it could even be that the mind of a gay person as a general is much more open to trying new things and is also open to new concepts.

But as with my personal case, some could argue that the furry fandom simply has a way of being so accepting of homosexuality and that our art base caters relentlessly to it that even people becoming part of the furry fandom feel way more comfortable to explore their own identity because they know there is almost no one whose gonna go "boy you should be watching hockey and going on about them big trucks! don't be such a prissy!"
When I was coming into my own sexual identity around 15-17 I had this huge shock with myself that I could even be BI of all things, I said to myself "ugh no way.. how can I like guys.. its just weird" yet I enjoyed the company of guys so much and my favorite pieces of art were becoming all M/M. Once I as comfortable with the idea that I was BI, it never bothered me again, never a second thought, about two years later once I was graduated from high-school I met a few nice guys online and actually formed a relationship with one. My desire to have a female partner was pretty much very very minimal and I found myself wanting other guys. By this point I just came out to myself admitting that I was gay. Everyone I spoke to online and came-out to acted like it was just another one of those things. they said things like "hey that's cool :)" or "good on ya man" or even "its good you are that honest about what you like" it wasn't a shocker to anyone and I never got any sorta talk down or negative comments. The fandom made me feel like I truly belonged. You know that could be one of the very reasons the fandom has such a large gap population, we are just so open and accepting of it. ^.=.^

i don't think i could have said it any better than Drake, pretty much same experience here and along the same things i would have said :P

And bam Drake throws another insiteful and Inpowering View on the Furry Fandom, HE'S ON A ROLE! Damn man your Cool in my books :thumbs:

I definitely agree with Drake of that scenerio. The fandom is a lot more open and accepting of these things so it allows people to explore their sexuality without feeling ostracized in every part of their life. Even if their family may be all against it, the fandoms till allows for some kind of escape from the close-mindedness they might experience in other aspects of their lives.

For me, i've always liked both males and females. I thought i was bi before i knew what furry was. Though i've come to realize that i am pansexual (i dont care if the person i love is male, female, herm, trans, whatever. As long as we love eachother and we get along in such a way that a couple would: respect, communication, etc, Then thats all that matters to me and all that has ever mattered to me. I just wasnt able to put a word to it until i was in the fandom and had the urge to do a little research on these terms. )

This has really had nothing to do with the fandom itself though. Just something i've always known about myself. Sure, the fandom is very open to these types of things, so its definitely nice not to be judged by your fandom, but still, it really had nothing to do with the fandom, since i was like this before i really knew or became a part of the fandom.

I also do find it amusing that both this years current furry survery (well. one of the few there are,) and last years, shows that there is a majority of hetero people then there are others. :3
With homosexual taking up the second. There definitely is a lot of it in the fandom, but i do know that not all the imagry represents the actual feelings of a person. A lot of those picture are done for fun or because 'they can.' I know people who use their character for whatever means they want. A character isnt necessarily a showcase of what this person actually does. I know completely straight men who have had M/M pics done just because they felt like it, not because it shows what their orientation is or that theyve had relations with this person. (I see a lot of people in the fandom take every sexual image as a direct representation of what/who that person has had sex with IRL or relations with. and thats just silly.) So all of the M/M artwork doesnt really represent all those who are homosexual.
This years current results: http://www.klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey.php (http://www.klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey.php)
The other furry survery (done by a different group of people) shows similar results: https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/international-online-furry-survey-2011 (https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/international-online-furry-survey-2011)

I always find those surveys so fascinating, they manage to throw me for quite the loop at times. I think the real reason people think the fandom is nothing buy gay people (when really we might not even make it close to even half) is because gay furs are so loud and proud (I know I can be XD) Like you said, furs don't feel ostracized for being gay, in fact they feel like the are 100% supported by this entirely different world of people. After being in the mundane world and usually having to hide who they are from their family, co-workers, maybe even friends they feel a lill pent up so here comes the furry fandom that pretty much has written on the door "we like gay people!" and as soon as they cross that threshold its like BOOM suddenly an explosion of just being out there and letting it all fly. Most people see how loud and open those furs are and just tend to come to the conclusion "damn the fandom must be this huuuuuge gay bar"

lol I will even admit, I thought to fandom had a much larger gay population than it actually does, but on the flip side.. the amount of people so open and willing to same sex encounters still does count for something, the fandom has a massive grey area with groups like Pansexuals and Bi sexuals that just think its all good. ^.=.^

Furries actually TURNED me gay, no joke.  Well... not completely gay: I enjoy women and men 50/50.  But I had absolutely no attraction to men until I made a few friends in the furry community that were already gay.  They kinda... turned me over to the dark side. =P

It's our experiences that make us who we are.  I'm a product of my environment just as much as I am of my choices.  I was fortunate enough to have plenty of exposure to different cultures and creeds in my lifetime and I'm happy about where it got me.

: Drake Wingfire  August 04, 2012, 09:28:15 -06:00
I always find those surveys so fascinating, they manage to throw me for quite the loop at times. I think the real reason people think the fandom is nothing buy gay people (when really we might not even make it close to even half) is because gay furs are so loud and proud...

Yeah, I know this one gay furry (a real Debbie Downer) who is always going on and on about how 90% of the furry fandom is actually straight or bi.

... Yeah right. I don't believe it. Even if there is a large bi percentage, they must express themselves as gay, 'cause I hardly see any straight furries. The gay ones are most vocal.

I see tons of straight furries. I read peoples profiles when i go art hunting on FA and other art sites.
You just have to look in the right places. If those with a same sex preference are the loudest, then pay attention to those who are quiet :P

lol But if quiet ones are quiet, I don't know they exist! XDD

its not hard to find a straight one Yell out the Ever classic "OMG IM SO WASTED!" that will lure them out.  :-3

Lol then look further then what ones actually come to your attention Zenia. lol.
Its not all that hard. Just takes some patience and some time if you want to look enough.

: zenia  August 05, 2012, 03:41:06 -06:00
Yeah, I know this one gay furry (a real Debbie Downer) who is always going on and on about how 90% of the furry fandom is actually straight or bi.

... Yeah right. I don't believe it. Even if there is a large bi percentage, they must express themselves as gay, 'cause I hardly see any straight furries. The gay ones are most vocal.

Funny you should mention that. Its something I have noticed as well, a good chunk of the bi guys I see in the fandom, you look through their art, their favorites on FA and even talk to them and they just seem totally gay... Till you ask them about it, then they go "haha nah im Bi dude" but its usually Bi in the most fringe sense because they might have only a very very small attraction towards females, not enough to ever pursue them as partners or even to care for sex with a female, but enough to say "yes she is attractive" but otherwise they are always focused on other males.

Part of me thinks that for some of the ones like that, its kind of a pride thing, they may still see gay as this thing that means you are weak, skinny and like wearing hot colors of clothes, like the girly-gay stereotype that's so popular, so they try and hang onto at least some sense that they still like girls so they can feel like they are still rather masculine and that their sexual attraction to other guys is sort of a "one the side" thing. But I must clarify that I am not talking about Bi people on average, I just mean the ones who are extremely gay, only go for guys, only like gay porn. But still claim they are Bi because of that fraction of a percentage of them that could at least picture being with a girl.

Even myself for as gay as I am and put myself out there to be could still claim that I was Bi in the exact same sense simply because of the rare thoughts I have of maybe one day having some experiences with someone of the opposite sex and the fact that I can still honestly admit that there are some girls out there that I see and I do go "holy, she is actually rather cute" or "I really love her fun loving attitude" But I know calling myself Bi would be a farce given who I am in reality. I am just too far gone to ever successfully have any sort of straight relationship, males just do it for me XD

I don't get the ones that say "Oh, I'm bi. I like girls, but I wouldn't want to date/sex one." ... Well, that doesn't count as bi then. I mean, my sister is straight, but she can still see when a girl is attractive.

: zenia  August 06, 2012, 02:52:28 -06:00I don't get the ones that say "Oh, I'm bi. I like girls, but I wouldn't want to date/sex one." ... Well, that doesn't count as bi then. I mean, my sister is straight, but she can still see when a girl is attractive.

Well... There are those who say that merely because they can't quite fully admit to themselves they're gay.  Then again, there are those who say that just because they haven't met the right woman too.

Personal P.O.V. (and again it's just a view) is that everyone on this planet has the capacity to be turned on by both genders... upbringing, environment, personal exposure, etc tend to be limiting factors on what they view as "right" and the rest is more about comfort and base carnal nature. As for me, yeah I'm gay. I've never REALLY been turned on by a woman enough to want to have sex with them. Doesn't stop me from looking at a good looking woman and sayin' "Damn, that's a good looking woman" or even getting... well... some feeling down in the warm n fuzzies if I see one in a SITUATION that turns me on ;)

ok from what i see right know its a Relization ya some bi's are hiding and but the Furry gay/bi stuff tends to lure them onto a side more than the other,
and some are just Bi no matter what though we have to be them to acually know. me im leaning alot more towords the laydies but im courious if anything.

I think at least some of it has to do with the history of furry fandom. If I understand correctly, Mark Merlino marketed Confurence fairly heavily toward LGBT groups (this is back in the mists of time, early 90s), and that early exposure may have had demographic ramifications to this day, with that slant attracting more LGBT people.

I'm bi, myself. I'm sure I was always bi and had felt leanings that way before I ever discovered furry (though my rationalization-fu was very strong at that time), but it definitely brought it out.

Well, impressive turnout and responses, thank you for your interesting responses and adding your two cents to the survey. With the surveys you need at times to read in between the lines. Some participants may provide conflicting information even though they have different lifestyles. Thank you Temrin for sharing the survey.

Interesting aspect on the art part. Gay artwork is very prevalent in the fathom, for it is a favorite subject and also popular amongst many individuals. It may also be that is sells well?

There is a wide range of where on a scale you are, how much attracted you feel to one gender over the other. Happened a few days ago when looking at one person wearing shorts and noticing the legs.

Neox though, if recalling correctly you have a mate. Always have been wondering how one's mate reacts if you tell him/her that you can be attracted to the opposite gender as well. Your mate then becomes aware he/she lacks the capabilities to "please" you the other way.

: Wereman  August 09, 2012, 11:16:28 -06:00
Neox though, if recalling correctly you have a mate. Always have been wondering how one's mate reacts if you tell him/her that you can be attracted to the opposite gender as well. Your mate then becomes aware he/she lacks the capabilities to "please" you the other way.

While my boyfriend is aware that I am attracted to women still, he's also aware that I love him and I don't want or need female attention to keep me satisfied.  I have just as much fun with a man as I do with a woman, so the quality of my relationship with someone is completely independent of what sex they are.  If someone is insecure about that detail, well, it's really their own personal issue and it's something they have to sort out for themselves.

*thumbs up for Neox!*

Though, i've been on the other end of that stick, being left, more then once, for the want/need of other men. So i say that the fear of not being "good enough" or able to satisfy your partner when they might have other needs you cannot provide, is definitely justified.

I am as you though, Neox. Finding what you need in your partner, regardless of what sex they are. :3 So i commend you for that!

I am the same as Neox except with a mate part *high fives*

   as if my icon here gives my sexual orientation away (herm) gender doesn't actually mean anything to me in bed it's more on the person that I'm with more then what Gender they are. obviously with me being Bi with no male or female preference that doesn't mean that I'll go and sleep with anyone I do have my own boundaries too and of course my own personal needs as well.

    I do agree with you Neox that as long as you can provide the needs for your partner to satisfy both you and him then it is a good thing to have in a relationship regardless of gender. While yes obviously many people do get uncomfortable around the topic or fail to understand why same sex relationships happen or due to their personal beliefs think that it is wrong to do so. Believe it or not other animals too have same sex relationships it's actually quite common so it's not just a human thing as many people seem to believe that it is.

: Wereman  August 09, 2012, 11:16:28 -06:00Neox though, if recalling correctly you have a mate. Always have been wondering how one's mate reacts if you tell him/her that you can be attracted to the opposite gender as well. Your mate then becomes aware he/she lacks the capabilities to "please" you the other way.

My partner's bi as well, and we're poly. So, no real problem there.

ok first question what's Poly? seconed is it just me or did this get realy sexual all of a sudden but i guess that is a big consern for partners not to get bored or frustrated with them. But in the great words of someone i dont even know "What ever floats your boat"

When relationships are getting layed out on the table its bound to happen hehe. I do find it interesting how the poll here is highlighting a majority of gays amongst us, but posters are mostly pointing to the Bi label.
Guess we got more lurkers than posters in this poll haha.

That is true though Fuzzum, any relationship, gay, straight or those with one or both partys being Bi, nothing ever just falls together perfectly. Sadly on that same note the most common relationships to fall to pieces in this world are the "omg we are a match made in heaven!" types when I was younger (17-18ish) I fell for that one, but I suppose who doesn't with their first as love is a new thing for all of us at one point or another? We get so wrapped up in the lovey dovey notions to the degree that we cannot see how not really compatible some of us are. Every relationship will reach a point where some effort has to be put in, that's where the real test lies to see how well people go together. I have been through more than my fair share of relationships with bi and gay guys and every single one of them taught me new things about what really separates a relationship from "puppy love" I still am learning to this day.

: Fuzzum  August 09, 2012, 10:27:10 -06:00
ok first question what's Poly? seconed is it just me or did this get realy sexual all of a sudden but i guess that is a big consern for partners not to get bored or frustrated with them. But in the great words of someone i dont even know "What ever floats your boat"

Fuzzum: "Poly" = Polyamorous, which often refers to two or more people in a relationship that like to "share" their partners, put in simple terms.  Such a thing can be quite fragile and difficult to facilitate, but if a couple possess vast amounts of trust for each other and keep communication between one another foremost, it can work quite well.

Hm...I just took a look at the poll and there's nothing regarding Bis - oh wait, Drake beat me to it. ^w^;

(Neox)
delicate balence indeed, learn some new everyday.
(Hole shibang)
Sum the hole thing up is Relationships are complicated in there own way and no other way to put it.

: Fuzzum  August 10, 2012, 10:10:35 -06:00Relationships are complicated

This... 1000x this... In the end whether you're gay, straight, bi, or anywhere along the sexual spectrum, relationships are complex beasts that require care and attention at every turn.

Personally, I could care less what someone's orientation is. Me, I'm gay, I've yet to meet (and likely never will meet) a woman that made me feel that I wanted to have sex with them. At least one of my (small handful) of partners over the years has identified as bi. I don't feel any sense of "I can't meet their needs" because, honestly... I give 100% to every relationship I'm in and if that's not enough for them, that's their issue not mine.

Really?  I've never found any relationship to be complicated.  It's PEOPLE who are complicated.  If you're in a relationship, and each party knows exactly what he/she wants and what his/her partner wants out of it, relationships can be very very simple, even the breakups.  It's only when people choose to be cryptic, enigmatic, and are afraid to show their true colours and communicate things to one another that it becomes complicated. 

@Neox Some people dont know what they want. or havent enough experience to really understand themsevles and their own needs. So. And i mean its not really their fault. You cant really learn about yourself until you get yourself out there and try to figure it out. That really can only happen by getting into relationships. One can just hope that the person wont be an asshole about it if they decide you arent where they want to be, etc. But it takes time for people to figure out what they want.

I do agree though, it -is- people who are complicated. a relationship is a simple thing. Its people who complicate it. People who listen to other people instead of their own hearts, people who cannot communicate, etc.

Never thought about it like that but i guess your right about relationship's as a simple concept of just two Beings trying to share love and more but its them who need to get along and the relationship is just a word to lable it or did i Wonder off on that one. i think im  bit far off.

Honestly I think it takes the average person a relationship or two before they really start to know what they want in a partner, its not as cut and dry as "I want him/her romantic" or "they have to have a sense of humor"

I remember my first relationship, I was so gaga over the whole sweet and romantic deal, and while I still do like it, I have learned that it does wear down. I've learned that both parties in a relationship have to be at least somewhat independent otherwise one will always feel like they are getting smothered or carrying all the load. We all love to look for the great mate properties like attractiveness, humor and romance but really actual personality and mind-set plays such a huge part that if you don't have that sort of co-operative give and take essence to you then its hard to have relationships that last longer than the 3-month puppy love phase. I know they say opposites attract, but lets face it, in most relationships we are looking for someone who actually gets us, who enjoys at least similar things. Meaning you can't put a hardcore outdoorsy type with a basement programer type and expect things to hold together for too long.

Furry interaction is usually very physical, for whatever reason, and this acceptance generally leads to people pushing boundaries, even between the same gender.

Basic summary, but that's pretty much it in my opinion.
It's a well known fact that Furries get around more with eachother when compared to other social groups.

Jazzy, are you implying that furries amongst each other tend to fall more for another furry and mate than other social groups?

At an early age, as it was pointed out, you want to experience love and mate with an individual. Over time you experience the qualities and characteristics of the other, it does not matter of your mate's gender, lifestyle or preference. Depending on what your mate wants or enjoys, it can be a "deal breaker" or you can work and adjust to your mate's choice and preferences. Relationships are very flexible and particularly at the beginning you can discover qualities of your mate you like or find a challenge to have.

ok it seems that we are all over the boreds n this topic from why they are(bi's and what not) to why we are(Mine) and trying to find a link here and there but it all comes down to an open mined and the Never ending quest for that special some one and love.

Wereman, No, I'm implying exactly what I'm saying XD
By "get around more than other social groups" I mean they sexually experiment more within their social group than other social groups.

That or they are more vocal about it.
Either way it has the same affect.

: JazzyLament  August 19, 2012, 04:33:07 -06:00
Wereman, No, I'm implying exactly what I'm saying XD
By "get around more than other social groups" I mean they sexually experiment more within their social group than other social groups.

That or they are more vocal about it.
Either way it has the same affect.

I have seen this point brought up many time before and I think a rather simple explanation would be is that the furry fandom consists mostly of people roughly 15-30 years old, meaning everyone is in their most sexual exploring years and has like a 1-3 day tolerance of being able to go without doing anything fun *cough* Also seeing as we are in somewhat of a closed off environment (we have our own meets, forums, art sights, dating sights etc) it allows us to be more free with who we are, we don't have to worry about being judged because we know that not many furries are gonna be sitting their waggling their fingers and trying to shame anyone for their sexual interests, at least not without totally ostracizing themselves and being seen as a prude.

Part two of this (and also getting more on the topic of homosexuality) is simply the HUGE male base of the fandom, lots of gays and even more bi's, we like to get with our own and are known to be one of the most "social" of groups when it comes to partners and readiness in regards to sex. Just our mentality alone tears down so many of those social restrictive walls and we see and feel little shame in exploring our own sexuality with the same sex, even multiple people of the same sex because we see nothing wrong with it in the least. (you know, playing the field as they say) So it is easier for us to get-around that way, and once again since we are in the fandom here we have an easy time meeting other guys since we are in essence a more close knit social group with very few prying eyes or even negative attitudes towards homosexuality or even promiscuity. We feel free to hook up with who ever we want and do what ever we want.... AND I LOVE IT! XD

Well he's done it again, put a big shinning light of happieness and delight on a subject. ROLL BABY ROLL! :birdy:

sooooooooooo basically...I'm right? XD

Well were all right its just a matter of Personal Preference "Gigady" *Hip Thrust*

: Fuzzum  August 20, 2012, 05:46:52 -06:00
Well were all right its just a matter of Personal Preference "Gigady" *Hip Thrust*

ALLLLLLLL RIIIIIIIIGHT! *hip thrusts with*

Again interesting point you are bringing Drake, I like it.

We have the fortune to have a community and therefore explore our sexuality without being judged by other individuals. Comes to also to think, gays are expressive with their lifestyle and so are furries, two elements that connect.

: Wereman  August 21, 2012, 03:56:53 -06:00
Again interesting point you are bringing Drake, I like it.

We have the fortune to have a community and therefore explore our sexuality without being judged by other individuals. Comes to also to think, gays are expressive with their lifestyle and so are furries, two elements that connect.

Thats a good point too, I actually didn't think of that, it makes some sense that these two communities would share an element like that as both of them can be very tight knit and we both love to celebrate who we are. ^.=.^

I'm gay myself. I don't know how it happened, I was a big fan of starfox when i was a kid, and to this day i still love starfox, my furry interests grew wider till I almost felt uncomfortable expressing my hobbies, and then i discovered the fandom. it kinda surprised me that other people like the same thing as I do, alot of the furries i met were gay. I was starting to think it was a built in thing for homosexuals haha. I like the fandom ^^ even if it gets a bit teary eyed somewhat, I feel like I fit in alot here :3 I personally say being weird is being unique.

In addition to fully agreeing with Drake, sometimes people find themselves marginalized in a way that helps them to relate to other marginalized people of a different type.
For example: People with allergies to common ingredients in foods often become social activists because they suddenly realize how hard it is to do something a simple as eat when you're not part of the majority.

The other side of it, as has been mentioned, is that people who are open to something "Alternative" like being a fur are probably a heck of a lot more honest and open with themselves in general and are willing to experiment with their sexuality.
It seems to me that the minority is made up of those who prefer one gender over the other. Bisexuality seems to dominate the fandom.

Not to say that there aren't furries without a preference. Personally, I've gone from straight, to gay, to 50/50 bi, to bi with a heavy preference towards women. But there are some who started straight and have remained so, some who started gay and remained so, some who have started as one and ended up as another.

It's not about the fandom being predominantly straight or gay, it's about the type of open, honest personality that might be attracted to it. There are plenty of gay people who are as wierded out by furries as many straight people.

I am going to play a bit of devil's advocate hereon this topic tat has suffered a bit of necromancy.

Saying those who choose alternative lifestyles are more likely to be open ignore the fact that some people might be herded toward such alternative lifestyles because it is the only one that they can do what they want in. This could be they have tastes that are not generally accepted, that they behave in a manner that isn't tolerated elsewhere, or some other reason. They actually may be very closed to new experiences and instead just wish to practice something that is frowned about elsewhere and find a niche here. They could be parading about in an illusion, in a gross lie they have concocted that no one is willing to confront them about because people are too accepting, because people are too polite, or because drawing a line in the sand there might cause other lines to be drawn that are unwished, or any other hesitation.

It is really is hard to say why the fandom has the composition it does. A lot of points of inferences can be made, but those points will be just inferences until you can provide evidence. Such evidence is extremely hard to come by since it is rare you can control all the variables in a social environment. It could be that there is an open door policy that attracts people. It could be, as mentioned above, people were pushed to the fringes, and thrived in them. It could be that those of a particular personality type flocked to an area of interest with other similar personality types ending up in the same place. The reasons are numerous.

Surveys probably won't be able to truly unmask the reasons either. Surveys that deal with personal matters suffer self-report biases. If someone wants to be something, or doesn't want something to be seen a certain way, they are going to respond in a manner to skew the results in the way they want it. This could even be an unconscious decision. Also, surveys only can report on those willing to disclose information about themselves. There is also a population of people that a survey can never touch, and that is the population of people who won't fill out a survey.

What's the point of what I am saying you may be asking? The point is to remind that ne can't truly say why another has come to this fandom, and to remind others that one shouldn't make too many assumptions why someone ele joined the fandom. Their reasons could be quite disjoint from one's own.

Don't think anybody was trying to say for certain why anyone has come to the fandom. But if everybody offers their own insights then we might have a broader understanding of why it might seem that the majority of furries are gay, when there are many who are not.
For sure, I've met people of all types in my time as a fur. My observations were my own, based on my attraction to the fandom and trends I've seen among other groups and subcultures I've been involved with.
I personally think it's really interesting to dissect cultural trends and learn about the people who follow them, because no matter how unique we think we are, we are part of them.

I am trying to figure out myself and just found this forum. It may be too late to discuss about this but here is an opinion from my point of view.

I'm aware that there is a difference between the furry community in North America (or Europe as well) and my home country. Japan has its own big community called Kemono (Means beast in Japanese). They are slightly more hidden in the internet world. There are absolutely less fursuiters in Japan, probably not as popular as in here. It seems they are more fascinated by comics, which is not only a furry community. It's a subculture, and it is freedom with certain exceptions. Some people feel disgust with what other people are doing, but that is none of their business. They do what they want and they make a small groups.
gay, furries, pedophile, hardcore, BDSM, vore, tentacle... pretty well everything is well accepted in the culture. Maybe that's why Japanese is called a pervert lol
nothing much about gay or not. I just like what I like.

: Elnath  June 06, 2013, 12:12:07 -06:00
Don't think anybody was trying to say for certain why anyone has come to the fandom. But if everybody offers their own insights then we might have a broader understanding of why it might seem that the majority of furries are gay, when there are many who are not.
For sure, I've met people of all types in my time as a fur. My observations were my own, based on my attraction to the fandom and trends I've seen among other groups and subcultures I've been involved with.
I personally think it's really interesting to dissect cultural trends and learn about the people who follow them, because no matter how unique we think we are, we are part of them.

You my friend took the words right from my muzzle. But to add my own little bit...

I gotta echo the same sentiment ultimatley, no one here was saying that they know the ultimate truth, we were all just trowing our two cents into the giant pond that is this discussion. But I will say this to Pat's post. You do seem to be assuming a bit yourself with what you said, while others were going "hey It could be cause ______" you in turn just really just seemed to imply that people coming into the fandom or coming to terms with their own sexuality are for some reason clueless and very sheep like who could be swayed to any cause, feeling or idea with little effort.

I am not sure what kind of evidence you are looking for here, I get the strong feeling you are wanting some serious scientific take that in itself is a self-fulfilling prophecy of never happening meaning no evidence, meaning personal experience is moot because it doesn't have a big science stamp on it to justify it. If you really want to learn more and explore, the only way is to really get out there yourself and see this fandom first hand. There are just some things out there that only life can teach. Much like the "mystery" of why people love, why people fall in love. Endless hours can be spent trying to boil down this emotion, this feeling, to a few basic elements, but still its something that's better understood though personal experience.

If you noticed, I said multiple times in my post that the reasons people could have come in to the fandom are endless. I also stated I was taking the devil's advocate position to the point that people who come to alternate fandoms are more open and honest. No where did I say people are coming because of X. I say might, may or possibly. It was as hypothetical as anyone else's post here. I even stated that scientific studies will near never be able to explain why because there are too many variables. I can't help but feel my post was glossed over and not fully read.

I have experienced the fandom for quite a few years. Over a decade at that. I have had time for my observations, to see the good and the bad. I have seen people come to connect and mingle with like minds, seen some who come for the parties, seen those who joined for the promiscuous nature, and others who like to manipulate and control. I meant it when I said the reasons are endless.

I became a furry when I was 10, once I turned 16 I decided to accept that, eventually I learned that I was a Pansexual; I'm sure I was always Pansexual, I just didn't know it.

You should've probably put bisexual in there somewhere since polls tend to show Bisexual is the majority if you poll furries. Otherwise people tend to either lump into "other" or go for gay/straight for whatever they're more into.

I didn't really realize I was gay until after joining the furry fandom. I just assumed I had a really low sex drive because I never found any woman arousing.
I think I'd mention that because drake and temrim already said solid points

Wasn't this thread many years old?  ???

: Silverski wolf  April 12, 2016, 04:22:51 -06:00
Wasn't this thread many years old?  ???

He created a new thread that was merged into this one

To each their own. I've been hit on by members of either sex over the past decade, both in and out of the fandom, and quite frankly I barely hold a sliver of the same sentiment in return to reciprocate.

At the end of the day, I neither see a point nor have an interest in knowing someone's sexuality, instead being more preferential towards intelligence and independence. A bit of a shame that such people tend to be ghosts these days.

: Owl  April 11, 2016, 11:39:46 -06:00
You should've probably put bisexual in there somewhere since polls tend to show Bisexual is the majority if you poll furries. Otherwise people tend to either lump into "other" or go for gay/straight for whatever they're more into.

furry but not sure would probably be the closest answer

Oh, lol im straight just to clarify my vote

I am BI, but like males as partners because I find them more relaxed and easy going. I will go with either if they have the right personality but I find it most often with guys.

I'm asexual and straight but get mistaken for gay or bi because I cross dress. Some people will insist on it too but frankly I'm terrified of both sexes. I lucked out finding someone at least. I find specific groups aren't much different than general society. I think it just depends on who you are as a person and who is around you. How people treat me in general is the same as in specific groups.

If I am into a person, I am into that person, and not because of their plumbing.

Having said that, as a domesticated canine my breed is labia retriever,
so make of that what you will ...

I used to be straight....
Kinda Bi now. I definitely found out more about my sexuality through the furry fandom. A lot of very sexy furry art is partly to blame. Ha ha ha.
I'm glad it opened my eyes and expanded my mind to new fun things.

Interesting arguments, needless to say adult furry artwork may strengthen one's orientation.

Not that long ago I attended a party with mostly gay furs. Yet during the evening I was talking to two husbands who were there with their wives. both stated they are open to occasionally have a male partner.