For me, joining the furry fandom has had a huge impact on my life in a good way. I learned that it’s okay if I’m different or “cringe” as long as what I’m doing is making me happy. I no longer need validation from others that what I’m doing is okay because I now realize that those types of people needlessly bully individuals who do stuff that doesn’t match their definition of “based”. I feel more confident in talking to other people which led me to becoming friends with the best person I’ve ever met who is now my partner.

I’m curious to know your story about joining the fandom and how it has impacted you so I can get to know this community better.

  • 稲荷大神の狐
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    62 years ago

    I joined in the early 2000’s the fandom has had a big impact. Both positively and negatively. Some of the negativity of it was my own fault.

    But will say the fandom has allowed me to explore my sexuality more over the years. For a long time I had considered myself straight in the fandom, even though I did look at gay furry art from time to time.

    But back then I didn’t want to admit to myself I was gay or even bisexual. To help understand why I didn’t want to admit to myself back then, you got to undersrand when I was in high school in the southern US, being gay was the quickest way to be ostracized and get beaten up. Luckily back then the internet was still fairly young and so people did not exactly know what a furry was. If they did I probably would have been ostracized and gotten my butt kicked. For all people knew, I just drew anthropomorphic cartoon animals.

    I was afraid then to look at the truth and admit who and what I really was back then. But because of the fandom and it’s patience with me, I finally came out around 2015, almost a decade after high school, where I was able to admit I was bisexual.

    Without the fandom, I don’t think I would have ever explored deeper into my own sexuality. Or found out how much I like Femboys and appreciate them. (///¬ _ ¬///);

    And btw, everyone that shares… You are all cute! (´。• ω •。`) ♡