Minnesota’s Republican candidate for governor is refusing to comment on a super embarrassing video that shows him warning people about school children peeing in litter boxes after being told they can identify as anthropomorphic cats.
Dr. Scott Jensen, a Trump-loving, science-denying, conspiracy theory-peddling former state lawmaker, made the remarks while speaking to supporters at an outdoor event last week, according to a video posted to social media.
“But what about education?” the 67-year-old said. “What are we doing to our kids? Why are we telling elementary kids that they get to choose their gender this week? Why do we have litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry? We’ve lost our minds. We’ve lost our minds.”
At an event last week, the GOP candidate for governor of Minnesota there are, "litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry…"
It's a persistent and bizarre Internet hoax.https://t.co/CJfOoh8Gux pic.twitter.com/VCreOvjhh9
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) October 3, 2022
CBS Minnesota reports:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Furries are a subculture that sometimes involves people dressing up as anthropomorphic animal characters and attending conventions.
The unfounded internet rumor has been repeatedly denied by various school officials who have had to continuously dispute the false claims. Republican officials across the country have continued to cite it, most recently in Colorado by the Republican nominee for governor.
The claim reportedly originated from a community member at a local school board meeting last year and has since spread across the internet. They have been repeatedly shot down by fact-checkers from major news outlets as false. The bizarre conspiracy has spread so much that it even has its own dedicated Wikipedia page.
Adding yet another layer of weirdness to Jensen’s vaguely anti-LGBTQ remarks is the fact that his daughter is a lesbian. In 2019, while serving in the state Senate, he even credited her for his decision to support a ban on gay conversion therapy.
Related: WATCH: GOP lawmaker ridiculed over rant about kids dressing up as cats and demanding litter boxes
But apparently all that is out the window now that it’s 2022 and he’s courting the MAGA vote in his longshot bid for governor. Jensen is running against the incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who is expected to win reelection. The latest FiveThirtyEight average finds Walz leading Jensen by 10 points.
Since the super embarrassing video started circulating online, Jensen has declined to comment on it, but Twitter sure has a lot to say…
Scott Jensen was a family practice physician and medical school professor. He shouldn’t stoop to spreading vile rumors about children and educators. https://t.co/QJBvwMfxib
— Daniel Feldman (@d_feldman) October 3, 2022
Now that gas prices have come down, it’s natural for Scott Jensen to pivot from “lower gas prices” to “get litter boxes out of schools”
— Satanic picnic (@MinnDB) October 4, 2022
Scott Jensen believes bizarre conspiracy theories about furries and litter boxes taking over our public schools.
We can’t let his extremism anywhere near the governor’s office. https://t.co/8UqHHzAZPV
— Minnesota DFL Party (@MinnesotaDFL) October 3, 2022
So sick of this furries conspiracy. I work in a school and people still don’t believe me. It isn’t happening!
— Wes Myers (@urbwes) October 3, 2022
Minnesotan here….Scott Jensen is basically Mike Lindell but even more bizarre and scary.
— cjmmn (@ChuckCjmmn) October 3, 2022
The video was posted on Facebook 3 days ago. A wider shot shows the area around where Jensen was speaking. (But we don’t know where/when this speech occurred, so let us know if you recognize this place!) pic.twitter.com/7c0I8geq1W
— 🚔 MN Safety 🚔 (@SafetyAlertsMN) October 3, 2022
Scott Jensen thinks schools have litter boxes for kids to go to the bathroom in. He’s unqualified to run the state and should make an appointment with a mental health professional.
— Reverend Nasty Woman (@gandsco) October 3, 2022
Hey remember when you guys took away bodily autonomy then wanted it back as a slogan? That was wild!
— a a (@aa24954983) October 3, 2022
“Sir, we don’t keep litter boxes in our schools.”
Scott Jensen: https://t.co/lY4pL7I5x9 pic.twitter.com/v7Ixz1pWv8
— Billy (@ThiccFlairDrip) October 4, 2022
Bruh. What’s he got against my people? The kitten furries gotta go to the bathroom too
— Jose (@Jose93501265) October 4, 2022
Related: Minnesota governor to ban conversion therapy by executive order
Kangol2
First, this man, like so many running for office from the MAGA camp, is batsh!t crazy.
Second, I feel for his lesbian daughter.
Third, all Democrats should assume the polls are off and run like they are 10 to 20 points behind.
Fourth, in case it wasn’t clear, this man is batsh!t crazy!
ZzBomb
“We’ve lost our minds. We’ve lost our minds.”
Yes sir, yes you have. I still can’t fathom how anyone honestly votes for people like this.
James
Another republican nut job from hell with no qualification except to hate gay people. LOSER.
Jeremiah
Remember when it used to be gerbils? Ah those were the days.
scotty
“telling us to yiff in hell, only makes us harder.”
Neoprene
See a furry. Tackle that furry. It’s fun and they have padding so no harm, no foul.
Jimmynj
This guy is a nutjob, otherwise known as a typical MAGA Republican.