My opinion is that if it's a significant part of who you are or who you want to be, it should be something you make others aware of - since not everyone is willing to understand or tolerate it, and I've seen the negative results of trying to appease a barely tolerant non-furry SO.

Also in my case my first date with my mate of 10 years was literally "Hey, I received my new fursuit, do you want to come help me do the unboxing" and she later confessed that while she was teetering on the edge due to curiosity, she wasn't quite a furry until after that (and it also prompted her to buy a partial for herself since she began to like the thought).

That was my thought too but I wasn't sure if it was the norm. "Upfront here's an aspect about me that isnt changing."

I also went back and worded it as "mascot for my brand". I figured that way it doesn't use exact language like furry and offers an intro explanation.

It's definitely something that needs to be known upfront. Being part of the fandom comes with some heavy connotations that can be an instant death sentence to a relationship if it comes out later and gets interpreted as having been kept secret.

Even the tame level of just enjoying animal avatars is still associated with being part of a community who gathers around common fetishes so even if you don't, there will always be doubt about about everything you've been involved in and if you've fully severed those ties in order to commit to your partner.

It's effectively saying "Hey, just being upfront, I've slept around with a body count I don't even have a number for but I'm looking to settle down."

That's before the outlandish fetishes normal folks don't even imagine.
Most folks in the furry community rather accept they have to find someone within the community or first completely leave it and hide the evidence before they can but then guilt eats at them and it turns into a time bomb situation.

Yes that was definitely a concern of mine were the assumptions a potential partner would make. Being straight, tame and monogamous definitely makes me a minority in the fandom X3 definitely want to avoid a bond diffusal situation of "okay I can explain"

You are FAR less of a minority than depicted. It's merely an issue of visibility and outspokenness (or lack thereof) vs. those in other groups.

Out of my friends, the primary demographic is pansexual with a hetero tendency or preference.
Monogamy is highly preferential amongst those who are heterosexually preferential, too. It's seen as less of a 'need to disclose' fact than for people who are poly or pan.

When I was still dating, it wasn't something I brought up until it seemed like someone really wanted to date me, but at that time it was only a side hustle and not the majority of my focus. If it had been a larger part of my life then, like it is now, I would've said it as close to up front as possible. I don't want to waste my time or anyone else's by staying silent on large aspects of myself/my life when I know they could be potential deal breakers. I'd rather know up front that someone isn't compatible and move on to the next potential partner. Dating is already a mess and I preferred to make it as efficient a process as feasibly possible 😆😆

My partner is also a furry, and ironically because our friendship started on the basis of gaming, it actually took a minute before either of us spoke up about furry stuff. Iirc, he mentioned having a sona first, and then I admitted I'm a furry artist, and our connection grew three sizes that day lol

I honestly think if you're just dating for the hook-up factor, then you shouldn't need to disclose such details right away since it would very likely drive people away. However, if you're looking for a proper relationship, then I think it really shouldn't matter if it's something you disclose right away or not. Maybe it's just me, but if my relationship was in jeopardy because of one of my interests, then it probably wasn't a very solid one to begin with. But on the other hand, people have to look for dates with SOME kind of filter so having something like "is furry" before they've even met you might turn people away.

Ultimately, I'd probably not disclose it publicly, but I would not keep it from them for very long. It's something you enjoy and if they like you, then it's something they can deal with, even if it's not exactly their cup of tea. Just because you're going into a relationship doesn't mean you have to radically change who you are to please them, especially at your own expense.

I wouldn't pursue a relationshipw ith someone who is anti-furry, so I think it's best to addres out fo the door.
To be clear, they don't have to be furry. They just have to be sane and tolerant about it.

Speaking as someone who's not a furry myself, I wouldn't want to date someone who didn't like furries. 'Cause chances are, that's not the only form of prejudice that they're packing. Furry hate is, more often than not, Homophobia Lite.

This. I usually find an unreasonable level of misinformation spewing from them.
Usually the 'Every furry is a child-grooming pedophile' argument.
Almost always with similarly severe religious and/or political views.

Prejudices rarely come specific!

For me, being a furry is just a hobby and not something that needs to be disclosed immediately. Of course, if they're extremely prejudiced and wrongly assume I'm a zoophile if/when they find out that I draw humanized animals then that's obviously a deal breaker

Absolutely not. But don't hold off too long if it is important to you. Remember, it's a hobby, not a religion.

Depends. What would be morally correct is to be open and blaise about it.
In reality, humans are cruel, judgemental, hateful creatures and will use any possible excuse to ostracize and victimize each other.

I would put some kind of casual reference to it out there. But I wouldn't go out of my way to put it in anyone's face. If the dating is going well, I would make sure they understood what it is, and are ok with it.

I think I wrote it as "Fun fact about me: I am the mascot for my brand" or something like that. To a normie it provides some sort of answer.

Well im currently single/off the dating for now but id say upfront. Dating apps/sites id be more relaxed if they where a furry and id want them to know the real me. Thinking honesty will always be the best way. Lets be us not something else......mmm pizza~

I never had a IRL Girlfriend in my lifetime, I did have a few crushes. but I actually decided to not get one because I have a fear of my mother not supporting me anymore due to my involvement in the Furry Fandom.. I just don't want to end up in a (sorry for mentioning it) Judith Barsi situation if I ended up with a Female romantic Partner

I'd consider it a third date topic, but you do you my man.