You’re Probably Not Really Vegan
An overdue open letter to fake vegans.
I’ve been vegan for a long time. When I say “vegan,” I do not mean plant-based, flexitarian, vegetarian, or pescetarian. I have never had a “cheat day,” I have never accepted a gift that contained animal suffering, and I have never let myself “relax.” Veganism is a lifestyle, not a diet, not a trend, not a challenge. Veganism is a moral philosophy that expands to every part of a vegan’s existence. From what we eat to what we wear to what we choose to entertain ourselves with.
During my tenure as a vegan, I have met many people who claim to have been or are vegan. “Oh, I’m vegan right now, too! I’m trying to eat better…” “Yeah, I went vegan for a week. Not for me…” “I’ve lost so much weight being vegan; I love it…”
Obviously, veganism does affect your health in positive ways. Many people see themselves losing weight, having healthy cholesterol levels, having clearer skin, etc. These health benefits are not what veganism is about, though. The people who are “vegan for health” are not actually vegan; at most, they are plant-based. To learn the difference between being vegan and being plant-based, click here.
If you buy or wear the skin, fur, hair, secretions, or flesh of an animal, you are not vegan. If you buy or wear second-hand animal products, you are not vegan.
If you buy or use makeup or other cosmetic products that are tested on animals, you are not vegan. If the shampoo and conditioner that your stylist uses on you contains animal suffering, you are not vegan.
If you attend horse-racing events, ride horses yourself, or go to the zoo or aquariums, you are not vegan. If you go to a pumpkin patch that has a petting zoo attached, you are not vegan.
If you accept gifts or eat meals that contain animal suffering, even on holidays, you are not vegan. If you’ve had “cheat days,” you are not vegan.
If you’ve invested in stock from non-vegan companies, you are not vegan. If you’ve bought non-vegan items for family members or friends, you are not vegan.
If you buy “vegan” products from companies that test on animals or benefit from animal suffering in some way, you’re not vegan.
My list could go on and on, but hopefully, you can fill in the rest yourself. The fact that these few bullet points are even up for debate is ridiculous; hilarious, but ridiculous. Veganism revolves around the moral belief system that views animals as individuals, not resources or commodities.
Why on Earth would you ever want to wear the skin of a dead animal? An animal that begged for their life, only for you to pay someone to drown their ripped-off skin with lethal chemicals and hang it in your closet. You don’t want it to go to waste? It is already a waste, the waste of that animal’s life. You wearing that animal’s skin is such a weird and creepy thing to do. You don't see me skinning a dead relative and wearing their flesh as a jacket out of ‘respect.’
Why on Earth would makeup that contains fat from a murdered sheep smeared on your face make you feel beautiful? What is beautiful about suffering, needless, inexcusable, unnecessary, unjustified suffering? How could a product that was sprayed into a rabbit’s eyes make you feel good about yourself when you wear it? Animal testing has already been proven to be ineffective and dangerous. The fact that vivisection still exists is beyond me, yet here you (and so many other people) are supporting it.
I get it; human beings don’t like change. So many of us have fears and phobias that keep us stuck in our comfort zone, never able to branch out. But how can you be comfortable causing so much pain and suffering? If you claim to be vegan, you probably know more than most people about the horrors of the animal exploitation industries… yet (if this article applies to you) here you are paying for these industries to continue.
I don’t care that your favorite leather jacket was a gift. I don’t care that you have been using the same mascara brand for 20 years. I don’t care that you’re too shy to ask your hairstylist if they use vegan products. Suck it up. Do you think the animals care? Do you think they feel respected when you trot around town adorned in their flesh? Do you think they excuse your merciless behavior because your eyelashes look great?
Newsflash: Veganism has expanded to every part of life, and there is a vegan version of everything you need or want. There are completely vegan makeup brands, clothing stores, restaurants, furniture stores, haircare lines, and more. Why contribute to the needless suffering?
Those boots, made from the skin of someone who didn’t want to die, will not make you more fashionable. That lipstick, made from sheep fat and crushed up insects and tested on a poor rabbit, will not make you more beautiful. Giving your hard-earned money to a company that shares the same values you (hopefully) have in exchange for something that makes sense to you—now that’s beautiful.
Overall, stop ruining what veganism really means. Stop telling people you’re vegan when you’re not. Stop changing the definition to make yourself feel better. Better yet, drop the fake “I care about animals, so I’m better than you” attitude and actually start giving a damn about these sentient beings. It doesn’t take much, especially in 2024, to do the right thing. You know you should be better, so why aren’t you?