Speaking as a queer black trans vegan, I don’t think it’s necessary or helpful to diminish the struggles of our fellow humans when advocating for the rights of our fellow animals. Speciesism is definitely important to acknowledge, but to suggest that it is more important than racism, sexism, or other human oppression —despite the fact that all humans do have species privilege — is likely to alienate potential allies and slow progress toward a vegan world. In my commentary on Joaquin Phoenix’s speech, I pointed out that the comparisons and connections he made have been made by marginalized vegans ourselves for decades.

Celebrities, Cows, and Connecting Oppressions