2nd largest Renaissance fair in America bans furries

Organizers also said that the costumes make other attendees feel weird and uncomfortable. Maryland Renaissance Festival general Manager Julius Smith explained the new policy in a comment to City Cast DC, saying other attendees were left "feeling uncomfortable by those wearing fursuits." The policy has been in place since May but the festival is fast approaching and furry devotees are getting their dander up.

In a Furries United Facebook group, one user said of the ban "This is discrimination" while others jumped in saying it couldn't be true. Another user suggested that the group "bombard [the festival] with complaints publicly and directly. Get the word out. It will be a bad look on them if they are barring the kind of cosplay you want to do if it is not harmful or detracting to the Faire."

"There's a few pups that are thinking about getting together," said another. "Standing outside with the sign let us in. As like a protest."

The dress code is clear. Under a section called Headwear Restrictions, the festival bans both face coverings, fursuits, and anything that is not thematic to the event.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival has become a furry hotspot over recent years, City Cast DC reports. They spoke to attendees who were super sad that they would not be able to wear their fur costumes and headpieces this year.

"I kind of went through all the stages of grief," said Hawthorne to City Cast DC. He's been active in the furry community for 15 years. "I think the biggest impact is losing this lovely place that I had kind of considered home. It was really, really heartbreaking." He relayed that this sentiment was broadly felt throughout the community because furries had planned meet-ups at the festival going back years.

He admitted that the public perception of the furry community as overtly sexual is not entirely off, saying "The media does love to portray the furry community as very sexually enthusiastic, if you will, and it's a group of adults being together. It's also a very queer-oriented community, and a lot of that community involves very radical self-expression, and within that radical self-expression, sexual themes can make an appearance."

He also said that wasn't the vibe when the furries took to the Renaissance Fest and said that he is definitely not planning to attend this year.

Furries United on Facebook has nearly 10,000 members and bills itself as "a group, where furries, fans of furries can come together in harmony, sharing their interest and conversing with one another. it is a place in which there is no discrimination and people can express themselves freely, and a happy place where new friendships are made."

Furries have also become ubiquitous at Pride parades and events where primarily men in bondage gear where "pup" head gear as well and are walked around on leashes. There's even a furry Pride flag with purple, black, white, and a red bone in the center. Furry conventions have been held as well, and those who are into the furry thing and wear costumes say they take on a "fursona" when they're in their suits.