It is generally thought wise to avoid stereotypes as they tend to generalise people in a harmful manner. However, research does point to the fact that some stereotypes can often be true (emphasis on sometimes). One such stereotype, the fact that there seems to be an overlap between queerness and veganism, appears true in my experience. Â But is there really any truth it, or does my personal experience just coincidentally align with the stereotype?
Well, it turns out that many people suspect the same. One particular journalist put their suspicions to the test and created polls in vegan Facebook groups, asking the members were part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Out of 925 responses, 66.4% of vegans identified as queer. A Facebook poll cannot be taken as a source of unquestionable authority but may point to some truth in the stereotype. I would argue that, just like how some feminists like Joni Seager argue that animal rights and feminism are directly related, an intersectionality between queerness and veganism exists.
The definition of veganism, as stated by the Vegan society is, â..a philosophy and way of living which seeks to excludeâas far as is possible and practicableâall forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose…â. At the heart of this definition is the fighting for the liberation of animals and against any harm towards them. Whilst queer individuals have no obligation to fight for gay rights like vegans fight for animal rights, as after-all one is a lifestyle choice and the other is an innate biological characteristic, queer individuals are likely to want to fight for rights that have personal implications. In fact, statistics show that queer people are often more likely to be politically active. Queer individuals may remain under-represented in politics, but young LGBTQIA+ Americans have proved to be more engaged in voting than their straight counterparts, and on average, those in same-sax relationships in Western Europe are significantly more politically active. Many queer individuals experience violence towards them. From Stonewall surveys, 64% of LGBTQIA+ people reported experiencing homophobic abuse or violence, and half of LGBTQIA+ students in schools hear homophobic slurs ‘frequently’ or ‘oftenâ. It is therefore unsurprising that queer people, who are so often persecuted against feel drawn to veganism, an ideology that fights against the persecution of other individuals that cannot even voice their pain. This is only further proved given their extent of political engagement.
As a result of experienced discrimination, queer people are often placed on the margins of society. Queerness challenges the traditional gender norms, whilst veganism challenges other societal norms. And so, individuals who already feel like outsiders from the current norms, may feel attracted to, or simply find it easier to join another perceived group of outsiders. These margins of society not only create outsiders, but also create accepting communities among such individuals.
It goes without saying that queerness is not a requirement for veganism and vice versa. Equally, one may find their queerness has no relation to their veganism. It is also important to note that I am not trying in any means to equate the two. One is a choice, the other is not. And whilst both may be looked down upon by certain members of society, one is told to âjust eat a burgerâ by older relatives or gym bros, whilst the other experiences historical and systematic oppression. But whether it be due to a want to fight against injustice due to personally experiencing certain injustices, or not feeling the desire or need to conform to certain societal standards, in some cases one can see an overlap between veganism and queerness. Â Â