Vegan Queers--NVR
Posted by rhetcompgirl on Jul 09, 2007 · Member since Aug 2006 · 77 posts
I've been living in Lexington, KY for about a year now (I teach at the University of Kentucky) and I have yet to find the queer veg*n contingent. I've always found these people in the other cities I've lived in, but Lexington is lacking (and not in just veg*n queers). So, the "meat and sex drive" thread got me wondering how many veg*n queers are on vegweb and what kinds of connections you make/see between the two (being veg*n + being queer).
Wow, Rhetcompgirl, I teach at UK too. For now anyway -- I'm switching to Northwestern this fall. Small world! What department? Computer science, I'm guessing, from your name? Lol you don't teach logic do you? That's what I'm teaching now, and don't think we logic-teaching philosophers don't know what the logic-teaching computer scientists think of us, lol! ;)
Edit: Oh, and my animal rights group, ANIMALky, has a weekly vegan potluck -- you'd be more than welcome. Coincidentally with the subject of your post, the potlucks are usually hosted by a lesbian vegan couple. Anyway, if you'd like to come to one, let me know, I can send you directions! We meet every Sunday at 6:30pm, although I'm not *positive* we'll do it this Sunday. My uky email address is c and then dot and then ehrett.
Hmm... that's interesting. I've never really connected veganism with sexuality. When I think of vegans (and vegetarians), I see kind of the "hippy" type.. you know, hair with the flowers, loose, white flowing clothes, hugging trees.. LOL (OK, maybe not hugging trees, but power to those who do!) I am not gay and I have absolutely no problem with those who are. Come to think of it, my favourite couple I know are gay! They would bend over backwards for their friends! But, they do eat meat (one is a celiac, so she's kinda limited to what she can eat). I think that's interesting you would perhaps see a bit of a connection between the two.
I "discovered" I was both at about the same time (yikes, 11 years...). My food politics and queer identity run in tandem and have, at least in the past, also culturally reinforced each other as well. Living in both marginalized communities I have always been interested in the intersections of the two. Personally, I've found much comfort in this kind of overlap.
No, not computers, Cephi. Rhetcomp is short for rhetoric and composition--I got my Ph.D. at Louisville. I'm on the 12th floor in Patterson Office Tower. I'm the postdoctoral scholar who is also the Assistant Director of the Writing Program--very chic and glamorous.
Hey guys, just checking in. I'm from the SF Bay Area. I've been out of the closet for eleven years and veg*n for 10. I only know one vegan and a small number of queers. I don't meet many queers or veg*ns, so I think my chances of meeting my vegan prince are slim to none! I don't really have time to go to any meetups every week, or groups or anything to meet people (crazy work schedule). I would like to meet some more veg*ns though, for a cooking buddy or a penpal or something.
This is interesting. One of my friends told me that they think some people perceive me as a lesbian (which I'm not). So, when I asked why, he said ,"well, you're a hippie, a vegetarian, and you don't shave your legs." ??? At the time he said this, I was confused about how silly his whole comment was...I know a few lesbians...they all eat meat and all shave their legs. Haha. Sorry. I guess this wasn't much help...
This is interesting. One of my friends told me that they think some people perceive me as a lesbian (which I'm not). So, when I asked why, he said ,"well, you're a hippie, a vegetarian, and you don't shave your legs." ??? At the time he said this, I was confused about how silly his whole comment was...I know a few lesbians...they all eat meat and all shave their legs. Haha. Sorry. I guess this wasn't much help...
ah ha ha. i get it all the time, too. i didn't shave my legs for a couple years (as of right now i am, though), i get offended if people say idiotic things such as 'that is so gay', etc...
friends will even ask other friends is i am queer. i think people just thing vegan=liberal=more open to whatever? i don't know...
This thread reminded me of that movie "But I'm a Cheerleader" in which vegetarianism was one of the reasons the girl in question was accused of being a lesbian and sent to "gay reform school".
someone want to crunch those numbers... percent queers by percent veg*n... what percent of the pop is queer and veg*n?!
Actually, the last three people I've dated have been vegan--including my current partner. Either they were already vegan or they quickly converted after learning the "truth" about what we eat.
Hey guys, just checking in. I'm from the SF Bay Area. I've been out of the closet for eleven years and veg*n for 10. I only know one vegan and a small number of queers. I don't meet many queers or veg*ns, so I think my chances of meeting my vegan prince are slim to none! I don't really have time to go to any meetups every week, or groups or anything to meet people (crazy work schedule). I would like to meet some more veg*ns though, for a cooking buddy or a penpal or something
Secondbase, you must be REALLY busy considering all the queers and all the vegans packed into one tiny Bay Area. Start hanging out at one of the Herbivores--I saw loads and loads of hot guys when I was in SF last time.
Present! Vegan Queer in Buffalo, NY--another city not exactly brimming with either. I probably know an equally small body of both with not a lot of cross over. Of course, my girlfriend is vegan and (luckily) queer ;D! As to whether or not they're related? Hmmm. I suppose they are, in a way, though liking girls was not really the product of a political "connect the dots" exercise like my veganism was. I DO see veganism as bound up with, or maybe the logical extension of, leftist politics. Anyway, yeah, though, in terms of cultural identity, they're definitely related. Both marginalized, both associated wrongly and rightly (I think) with privilege, both inescapably political today.
I agree with baypuppy! What a happy thread!
mdvegan - this is a movie I have also enjoyed!
"I used to be a "gay". Now I'm an "ex-gay". lol
What a laugh, but really, if there is a connection between queer ppl and veggies then isn't this just a typical stereotype like all lesbians have short hair and gay guys love Madonna?
This is interesting. One of my friends told me that they think some people perceive me as a lesbian (which I'm not). So, when I asked why, he said ,"well, you're a hippie, a vegetarian, and you don't shave your legs." ??? At the time he said this, I was confused about how silly his whole comment was...I know a few lesbians...they all eat meat and all shave their legs. Haha. Sorry. I guess this wasn't much help...
ah ha ha. i get it all the time, too. i didn't shave my legs for a couple years (as of right now i am, though), i get offended if people say idiotic things such as 'that is so gay', etc...
friends will even ask other friends is i am queer. i think people just thing vegan=liberal=more open to whatever? i don't know...
Yeah, I get that too. Actually, someone couldn't believe that I live with my boyfriend because I "look like an 11 year old lesbian" (whatever the hell that's supposed to mean). Apparently being small and having short hair and an "I don't take crap from anyone" attitude puts me in that category...?
What a laugh, but really, if there is a connection between queer ppl and veggies then isn't this just a typical stereotype like all lesbians have short hair and gay guys love Madonna?
Wow, Miss Jones, I'd have to say no on that one. Rhetcomp girl, I believe, was asking about the connections between living both a vegan lifestyle and a queer one, but I don't think anybody meant that one follows naturally from the other, or at least not in most cases. In fact, as many people on this thread have pointed out, vegan queers are damned hard to find! ;) This may or may not be counter-intuitive. I have been made fun of for being a queer, leftist, vegan academic, but I guess I choose to find it humorous rather than damning. Of course, I think it would be marvelous if veganism was an integral part of queer culture, right up there with Judy Garland and Ellen. ;D
My mother has been vego since I was nine. My sister is a veggie. So is my aunty, my mother's partner and my sister's boyfriend. We have been a veggie family since I can remember and hold family gatherings/catch-ups for every birthday/holiday/celebration/or "just because" and we have always presented veggie food. Not every member of my family is vegetarian but they always make comments on how wonderful the occasion is.
When I have told family/friends I am gay, fortunately I have not experienced criticism for this statement alone. But when I say I am vego?
I get the "Ohhhh of course you are".
And then the ribbing - even from my sister or mum's boyfriend, making comments about me being a "typical" veg leso hippie.
I do not believe veg*ism is related to being queer. I know plenty of veggies that are straight (and where does that leave them) and certainly many that are not.
Another queer vegan checking in here! My room mate is a queer vegan too. My girlfriend is just queer, but at least she's not a picky eater. If I can get an omnivore to happily devour tofu, I feel like I've accomplished something good. :)
I'm kind of surprised that people connect veg*nism with lesbianism... I mean, people see eating meat as macho and eating "rabbit food" as feminine, that much is clear. (Hummer commercial with the tofu-buying guy, anyone? So I see why people stupidly connect being a gay male with being veg*n. But don't people with stupid stereotypes about lesbians typically consider them more macho than straight women? Shouldn't lesbians, in these peoples' minds, be the women who eat more and not less meat?
Maybe my error here is in attempting to assume consistency amongst ignorant beliefs...
On the other hand, I can see a connection between being queer and being veg*n to the following extent. To choose to be veg*n and to recognize and accept oneself as queer both require the willingness to reject the norms of society in favor of what is right for oneself. If someone is easily indoctrinated into conforming to social norms, then not only will that person eat meat, but s/he will be less likely to come out to herself and others, hence less likely to identify (and be identified) as queer. So given that reasoning, we actually could expect a correlation between being queer and being veg*n.
OMG!!!! If this is the criteria... I am straight, very. Have had 6 kids and lust after male bodies.
I am a vegan. I am a hippie I think, waist length hair, peasant skirts and tie dye (I am 47) and I NEVER shave my legs!
On the legs, I am a redhead and the hair on my legs has always been very fine and very blonde. If I had shaved it ever, it would not be fine or blonde. I have long legs, yup all the way up to my you know. They is a lot of surface area. I am sorry, but I have better things to do than spend an hour on a daily basis purging the hair from my legs. I never have razor stubble or the rash that I got from trying to shave when I was 13, again at 18 and 20...because razor's eat my skin and creams are worse. So, hairy I GO! I never associated my lack of shaving to be a lesbian something.
I don't know. I have known a few lesbians and I'll meet one who is very fem, way prettier than I am, smells nice, dresses with a snap. I'll meet another who is so butch I have to think twice about gender and not be rude or unfeeling. I can say the same thing about the straight women I know, exactly the same thing. Where did we get these generalizations?
I wish we were past this place where we were so concerned about sexual orientation. I wish it weren't judged. I wish they'd make it legal to marry between same-sex couples because they should every right that heteros do when it comes to relationship equality, responsibilities and privileges under the law, and you can do that without calling it marriage. In the time of the Pilgrims, marriage was NOT a religious contract, but a legal one. I am in favor of splitting this up again and having newer terms for wanting to spend your life with another person and making a commitment.
It is a sad preoccupation that some people have that they have a gaydar going, even if they are straight, living in some sort of weird panic that a gay person will "hit on them." For me, this is as bizarre was seeing that public service announcement where all of these kids are looking at the camera and asking what they should do in case of a terrorist attack. These things CAN happen, but goodness...once in a VERY GREAT while means we should plan and worry? Sheesh...get over it. Gay is gay, and straight is straight and I have red hair and you shave your legs and I don't, and we are vegans together and why can't we all get along?
I am sorry, I am just antijudgmental!!!! I have been putting up with some of this at home because the neighbor objected that my child has a half Mexican friend. WHAT does that have to do with the price of cucumbers?
I don't think being vegan has anything to do with being queer. Unless, perhaps, if one is open to themselves and who they are in one way, they are more likely to listen to other messages about themselves that might also be off the hard traveled path.
I love smashing stereotypes. I love showing others the possibility that their opinions might be wrong. I shaved my head a while back (a couple of times) and so many people assumed that I was gay. I just like the way it looks. Also, it's super easy to take care of! I have short hair and I'm a veg....so I must be gay right? Ha ha!
Hummer commercial with the tofu-buying guy, anyone?
i HATED that commercial!
I referenced Carol Adams's The Sexual Politics of Meat in the "meat and sex drive" thread, but I'll bring it up again to respond to Cephi's point about how many associate not eating meat with being "feminine," especially in men. This is only reinforced by the ways that meat is advertised in our culture in overtly sexual ways--men eat meat, men eat meat that reminds them of women. Men who don't eat meat, well...you get the point. As far as lesbians being more masculine--we probably need to redefine how culturally prescribed and reiterated "masculine" and "feminine" behaviors are for most people (we should continue to struggle with our copies of Judith Butler's Gender Trouble). People who live in the margins or in the boundaries between binaries often have the most trouble.
Of course, I can complicate the vegan+queer issue further by pointing out that I don't consider myself "gay" or "lesbian"--I'm queer, which encompasses both sexual preferences and the politics of such things. For me being vegan is not just about food, it's a way of viewing/acting/participating in the world. Being queer is not just about who I sleep with--it's also about how I view/act/paticipate in the world. These seem to be, in my opinion, the more obvious connections between the two.
hetcompgirl and i are academics so (i'm assuming for RCG) study this stuff. if you take the term "genderqueer," for example, this is disruption understandings of gender. it has nothing to do with who you sleep with, etc. however, most people assume that gender deviance is a sign of gayness because, in a society that dichotomizes understandings of both gender and sexuality with the whole "opposites attrack" bullpoop. again, not the case. i know genderqueers who are hetero.
veganism queers it up the "normal" assumptions about how people should eat and think about eating. being vegan only serves to compliment my queerness because it challenges the assumption that humans are "on top" and have the rights to the bodies of others--esp. non humans.
my queerness is in rejecting how i'm supposed to live my life. i'm not gender conventional, i don't date only men, i don't even really buy into monogamy and dyadic relationships as the right way to experience meaningful relationships. i am also sex positive, which is a stretch in a very unsex positive culture. this is, friends, my personal example of doing queerness.
1.) I love how I became "hetcompgirl" in the context of this discussion :)
2.) I also love how queer has become a verb. Everyday I queer the standard American diet--doing my part for queer vegans everywhere.
3.) To complicate the queer issue even further my partner is a queer transsexual vegan who enjoys his marginal status. When we first started dating each of us was dating someone else (blame the early 2000s and the popularity of The Ethical Slut)--consentually--in open relationships. I guess in some ways my interest is about the intersections of marginalized lifestyles. I mean, I know at least one dominatrix who is also vegan, which makes me wonder if/how folks in other margnialized or fringe areas of our culture are making connections between these aspects of their lives.
4.) Sorry this conversation has taken an obviously academic and, thus, dry turn. We can get back to talking about "sexier" stuff now.
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