11 LGBTQ+ Vegans Who Are Changing the World for Animals
As we’re nearing the conclusion of Pride Month, we wanted to take a moment to honor LGBTQ+ vegans who have saved countless animals by speaking out on their behalf and promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet. Below are just a handful inspiring LGBTQ+ individuals who are changing the world for our animal friends.
JIM MORRIS: Unfortunately, Jim Morris passed away in 2016 at the age of 80, but his legacy continues to inspire people to this day. Morris became the first openly-gay professional bodybuilder in 1971 and won various titles over his thirty-year career—some of his records remain unbroken today! Morris did not become vegan until his sixties, and credits his plant-based lifestyle to improved health and physique later in life. At the end of his life Morris strived to promote kindness and to break stereotypes attached to the elderly.
“I believe every creature is born with the inalienable right of freedom. Freedom to live in its natural environment, with its own kind, making its own decisions. I believe the law should prohibit the enslavement of all non human species for any purpose whatever.”
DEREK WALTER AND STEVE JENKINS: You may know of Derek Walter and Steve Jenkins as proud dads to Esther The Wonder Pig. Esther was sold to Derek and Steve as a micro piglet, but when they discovered she was actually the breed of pig commonly raised for meat, the couple went plant-based and never looked back.
Steve, Derek, and Esther have inspired countless people to go plant-based through Esther’s massive social media following. They founded Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, released two books, shared their story in a TED Talk, and more.
EDDIE GARZA: In addition to being the Senior Associate of Food & Nutrition for The Humane Society of the United States, Eddie Garza is a plant-based chef, cookbook author, speaker, culinary coach, and expert on issues related to Latinx health.
Like many of his peers growing up in the border town of Brownsville, Texas, Garza struggled with weight problems from an early age, weighing 310 pounds by the time he was 21 years old. He was able to improve his health and lose 150 pounds after transitioning to a plant-based diet. Now Garza is working to promote the benefits of plant-based eating to others. His latest book, ¡Salud! Vegan Mexican Cookbook, features 150 plant-powered recipes that represent the 150 pounds he lost.
ELLIOT PAGE: Elliot Page is an award-winning actor who isn’t afraid to speak up for what he believes in, whether it’s advocating for justice for animals, human rights, or feminism.
“Why are vegans made fun of while the inhumane factory farming process regards animals and the natural world merely as commodities to be exploited for profit?”
ALAN CUMMING: Alan Cumming is a multi-talented actor, comedian, writer, and activist for LGBTQ+ and animal rights issues. A long-time vegetarian, Cumming went vegan in 2012 citing Mike Tyson as his inspiration. He’s used his platform to speak out about the benefits to a plant-based lifestyle and why consuming dairy is cruel, and it’s been reported that he is known for advocating for a better variety of plant-based options for cast and crew on set while filming.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL: Jane Velez-Mitchell is an Emmy-winning journalist and author who has been on the forefront of many headline news stories for decades. Velez-Mitchell has hosted her own show on the HLN network, and she can be seen reporting on many high-profile cases on CNN as well as other national cable television television stations. She is the founder of #JaneUnChained, a non-profit digital news network reporting on animal issues and plant-based news from around the world.
JABARI BRISPORT: Jabari Brisport is a public school teacher, activist, and politician running for New York State Senate. If elected, Brisport hopes to eliminate the sale of fur in New York and end subsidies to the dairy industry.
“I think anyone who has felt some sort of victimization or felt like they have been ‘othered’ or they had been made to feel ‘less than’ can then empathize when someone else is being victimized, whether that someone is a human-animal or a non-human animal.”
MARIANN SULLIVAN: Mariann Sullivan is an animal attorney, law professor at Columbia Law School, writer and co-host of the award-winning weekly podcast, Our Hen House and host of The Animal Law Podcast. She also serves on the board of Animal Welfare Trust and Animal Welfare Advocacy.
“The percentage of gay people in the animal movement is really high. I think it’s just that ability to think out of the box, the ability to identify with the oppressed.”
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JASMIN SINGER:Along with Mariann Sullivan, Jasmin Singer is also co-host and co-founder of the Our Hen House podcast. She’s a book author (with her second book slated for release in December 2020), public speaker, Senior Online Features Editor for VegNews and Director of Content and Partnerships for vegan, cruelty-free beauty subscription box Kinder Beauty.
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SEAN O’CALLAGHAN: Better known as The Fat Gay Vegan, Sean O’Callaghan is a vegan influencer, author and advocate. In his book, The Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Live, and
Drink Like You Give A Sh*t, O’Callaghan talks about the benefits of being vegan and answers commonly-asked questions, as well as speaks about his journey into becoming a vegan activist. The Fat Gay Vegan has hearly 70,000 followers on Instagram for good reason—if you’re not following him already, you’re missing out.
MICHELLE CHO: With more than 15 years of experience leading impactful celebrity and entertainment campaigns for animal protection organizations, Michelle Cho now runs her own social impact, marketing and communications agency, Purposeful Seeding and Strategy. Her company pairs mission-driven institutions with talent, brands, and companies that share its values.
Interested in switching to a plant-based diet? Checkout Love Veg, for recipes, tips, and more!
