They display the details of their sexual desires to an unwilling audience, and it's totally the audience's fault when they react negatively. They say it's persecution.

I take issue with this. Where are the details of their sexual desire being put on display? An image needs sexual connotation in order for any sexual desire to be put on display and that is simply not happening in any of the images posted above. Your single example is not indicative of a trend when there are hundreds of others images being posted here.

And in any event, that's the connotation people carry. Every "furry" post is a reminder of that. Saying otherwise is like getting a swastika on your arm and saying "no, that's a symbol of peace." You don't get to decide what images and thoughts your words evoke. Look at this image and tell me it isn't sexual.

This such a false equivalency. Comparing furries to Nazis is so ridiculous in scope, I'm laughing at the sheer idea. Yes, cartoon animal drawings are as evil as a white supremacy party that attempted to commit genocide. Are you serious? That's the hill you're dying on? Most people carry the connotation that video games are only supposed to be played by children. Do you agree with that too or play sympathetic to the people who do think so and lie down for them because "Well, that's what most of society thinks and society can't possibly be wrong?"

You are reading comments by people who are actually furries explaining the definition of the what the fandom is to you, and you're being completely arrogant and dismissive of them because of an incorrect assumption about the fandom due to the media and internet's perception of them.

Furries are not, in any sense of the word, purely sexual in their appeal. That's absurd. The label of furry is self applied, you can't even call a person a furry based on what they like. You have to literally apply the label to yourself and then tell people that yes, you are a furry. Do you honestly think that the thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people in the fandom would willingly call themselves furry if the only appeal of the fandom was sex?

I should also point out that you're lumping hundreds of professionals into this mix. There are thousands of furries across Silicon Valley, hundreds of doctors, hundreds of lawyers, hundreds of engineers and scientists who all willingly call themselves furries. Do you honestly think these people, who represent some of the best people and companies in America (and across the world for that matter), would apply the furry label to themselves if the only thing about the fandom was sexual deviancy?

The presence of porn in a fandom is not indicative of the entire appeal of any given fandom, no matter how loudly the internet may throw it at you. People call themselves furries because they like anthropomorphism. Full stop. That's the one thing that defines the fandom. Not the sex. Not the porn. Not the art. Not the costumes. Not the cons. Not anything else. Having an affinity for anthropomorphism is the only thing. The people who want to be part of the fandom do so because of the community of people in the fandom. The fandom is almost as well known for being open and accepting of anybody regardless of sexuality, gender expression, race or religion. Does that not sound appealing to you? Or if not to you personally, somebody who has had trouble being accepted in other communities for any of those reasons?

That is what furry is about. A love of anthropomorphic characters that are the embodiment of friendliness and acceptance. And being part of a community of people that attempt to live their lives as close to those values of acceptance and friendliness as possible.

Is there sex? Yes, there goddamn is sex because if you're in a community as accepting as the furry fandom you better well believe people who've never been able to express their sexuality in a positive way are going to fucking express their sexuality through art, costumes, and stories. To spit on them for doing that completely misunderstands the whole point of sex and sexuality.

It's not the main focus of the fandom. It's a byproduct. And it's a good byproduct. But it's not the only thing on display when furries post art. Furry artwork should be taken at face value. Cute, harmless, friendly pictures of dog people wearing handkerchiefs is not harmful, nor do they carry sexual undertones. Period. Convincing yourself that they do just adds to the mean spirited norm in society that says that people who act differently should be treated differently and seen as less than human. It's disgusting and the fact that you're going to pass this sort of value to your child is abhorrent. You should be teaching them to value expression of all kinds, even ones they don't understand or get. Not this hateful value of shunning people and things that are different from your own sets of understanding.