'The Fast and the Furrious'

As many people know, Pittsburgh is a very diverse city. However, what many people don’t know is that Pittsburgh is diverse in more ways than just nationality and individual history. In fact, in the city where diversity and economic prosperity meet at the crossing of two rivers, there is a subculture - unique in its own way - that also uses this beautiful city as its assembly ground. The Furries.

For those of you who don’t know what a Furry is, it is a person who is a part of the Furry Fandom subculture. The Furry Fandom subculture is a subculture strongly interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters that behold the personalities and characteristics of human beings. It’s an incredible subculture in which people find comfort in dressing up in fursuits - suits that most closely resemble something of a mascot costume (though each Furry is far from a mascot) - many of which each Furry creates his or herself. While dressed to impress, each Furry takes on their individual “fursona” as they congregate at national conventions around the U.S. in which the Furries take workshops and share their love for literature, online culture, music and, well, being Furries.

And what do Furries have to do with Pittsburgh? It just so turns out that every year the largest Furry Convention in the world, known as Anthrocon, is held right here in the city of Pittsburgh. In fact, Anthrocon 2013, which was appropriately themed, “The Fast and the Furrious”,  was held only 3 weeks ago, from July 4th - July 7th, and was estimated to have hosted around 5,000 Furries and pumped over $3 million into the Pittsburgh economy! It’s a subculture that we here in Pittsburgh have learned to love and open our arms to as one of the many diverse aspect of our flourishing city.

For more information on Furries and Anthrocon, click here: www.anthrocon.org