‘They/them’ Utah preschool teacher proudly comes out as furry called ‘Flint’

The 22-year-old teacher of Salt Lake City, Utah, who uses the/them pronouns, might teach young kids during the day, but her true passion comes alive by night when she transforms into a furry named "Flint," which is part of the "Dutch Angel Dragon" community.

According to the Furry community's website, Dutch Angel Dragons have "horse-like anatomy, feathered wings, no genitalia or digestive tract, long ears, and fur coats."

"As a brief summary of their lore, they are supernatural beings similar to poltergeists or ghosts. They walk among us invisible, as guardian angels. These dragons live on a higher dimensional plane of existence and manipulate energy in various ways to grant them physical capabilities such as flight or elemental powers and can use energy to allow themselves to interface with people and objects," the website reads.

In an interview on Friday, "Flint" said that she has been hiding her alter ego because of the negativity that surrounds the subculture, but finally feels comfortable sharing her double life and encouraged others to show humility.

"I don't talk about it very much," Flint said. "Just because there is unfortunately still a negative connotation to the hobby."

"I picked up the hobby in the winter of 2020, but ever since I was 12, I've done cosplay and made costumes," Flint explained.

Credit: TikTok @flint.and.steel.fursuits

The preschool teacher also makes custom furry costumes and sells them for more than $1,200 per piece. Flint handcrafted her custom-made "Dutch Angel Dragon" piece, which has orange hair and orange eyes with a gray body and yellow star on the chest.

"I've always made clothes for myself; my mom taught me how to sew very early on, but I wanted to challenge myself, so online, I was looking around and I saw other people making these things," she said.

It was that moment when she decided that she would self-identify as a "furry," a kink that she used to believe was "really weird" until she did her research.

"I began to reflect on myself and realized that I was probably a furry because I wanted one of the costumes," Flint explained. "So, I just dove in and made myself a character because I just wanted to give it a try, and now that I'm here, I'm just kind of figuring it out and having a lot of fun doing it."

Credit: TikTok @flint.and.steel.fursuits

Flint encouraged people not to fall for "misinformation" surrounding her kink subculture saying, "This community is full of wonderful people who are smart and kind. Please just give us a chance."

"Please do your research. If you don't, then you’re ignorant because you don't want to know," she said.

Credit: TikTok @flint.and.steel.fursuits

The furry subculture made headlines last year when a Michigan school district was made to refute rumors that it had placed a litter box for children who identify as furry in one of its restrooms.

Dr. Sharon E. Roberts, associate professor at the University of Waterloo, told The New York Post that not all furries dress up for kink, but rather as an innocent escape from life.

"It is a shame that the furry community still endures (some) negative media portrayals and public misperception as deviants because the truth of this remarkable and resilient community is far more interesting," Roberts said.

Earlier this year, activists pushed for furries to become part of the LGBTQ spectrum. Furries are often featured and celebrated at Pride events.