Furry Airline Pilots Are Just Minding Their Own Business
“We’re furries at home, and we’re airline pilots at work, and these are two separate things,” says one member of the community in response to senator Tommy Tuberville's recent rant.
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville made bizarre remarks on the Senate floor regarding furries in the aviation industry during an anti-transgender rant. Tuberville claimed that many airline pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers are part of the furry community, expressing concern over this. To support his point, he shared a viral audio clip of pilots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport meowing and barking.
Many furries, a subculture of people who enjoy drawing and dressing as anthropomorphized animals, work in the aviation industry, according to Toby, a professional flight instructor and furry. Vulan, a pilot for a major American airline and a furry, confirmed this, explaining that furry representation in aviation is common. Despite the stigma associated with the furry community, there are several furry groups within aviation.
Toby hosts aviation panels at furry conventions, which are among the most popular events, with several hundred attendees.
While the exact number of furries in aviation is unknown due to the community's taboo nature, Tuberville mentioned knowing at least 40 furries working in the industry. However, they do not openly discuss their furry identities at work. The connection between furries and aviation may stem from shared interests such as travel and a strong passion for the field. Famous anthropomorphic pilots in films and TV shows may have sparked an early interest in aviation for some furries.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
