One of my favorite pictures is one I took this past Easter. Mike had, as he does every year, cooked a vegan feast for friends. They had all left and Mike had fallen asleep on the love seat with Monty, Rock, and Suga. Although Shadow and Miguel were not on the love seat, the photo shows so much that I am grateful for.
The Gay Vegan family includes Mike and I and our five companion animals.
I love our family.
Mike and I were married on April 30, 2005. In addition to us we share our home with: Shadow, a 17-year old Cockapoo; Rock, a 12-year old Yorkie; Suga, an 8-year old Maltese mix; Miguel, a 7-year old Chow mix; and Monty, a 3-year old Yorkie.
We live in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb directly west of Denver. We love where we live.
Mike and I try every day to make the world a better place for all living beings. There are two things that we do more often than others. As most activists, we have chosen to do our activism in a way that we believe benefits the voiceless and also fits into our lives. Although we also raise money through Cruelty-Free World to support animal groups all over the country, these two things we do are more local, more in our community.
Our first constant is that we are a foster home for neglected, abused, and hard to place dogs from several local animal shelters. We have been doing this since before we were married and have fostered dozens of dogs. The benefit for us has been huge as we get to meet so many loving animals and support them as they become less fearful of people. Eventually I want to create a link to photos of all of our fosters. They would make you smile for sure.
Fostering is something that you can do pretty much anywhere. I'm sure that most animal shelters have a need for fosters for some of their dogs (and cats). They would be incredibly grateful to you for helping them.
Another thing we try to do is to turn people on to the delicacy that is vegan food. I'm sure many of you have heard people's concerns when considering veganism, concerns that they are really going to miss out on delicious food if they become vegan. Having been a vegan for over ten years I can tell them that nothing is further from the truth. And being married to an amazing vegan cook, it is only better! So we invite non-vegan friends over for meals, for brunches, for cinnamon rolls (Mike's are THE best I have ever had!)and to meet us at restaurants that serve wonderful vegan options.
There is nothing like having a sweet, beautiful, severely abused dog sleeping on your lap while your awesome husband is baking vegan cinnamon rolls. Hmmmm.
Remember that there are many ways to be an activist. Writing letters, attending a protest, having a chat with a local elected official, passing out leaflets, etc. This list could go on and on. Oh, and spreading awareness for Meatless Mondays in your community!
Thanks for reading our blog. I continue to be surprised by all of your wonderful comments and love. Those who have been reading our blog have really rocked it with spreading the word about Meatless Mondays and I am so grateful.
Zuma beach.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Meatless Mondays Part III - 281 went meatless!
A simple blog post last week turned into a pretty cool event this week.
Last week I wrote about the concept of Meatless Mondays and how some communities around the country have embraced the idea. I invited readers and people they know to go meatless this past Monday.
The final number of people who told me they (and/or friends and family) were going meatless this past Monday is at 281.
281 did not eat meat this past Monday. Or fish. And keep in mind that this only includes those that are not already veg or vegan.
To say that I am blown away is an understatement. To read notes from folks and posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter give me so much hope for the future and clearly tells me that there are many people out there interested in not eating meet and embracing a plant-based lifestyle.
Dinner parties were held. People cooked with their spouse or significant other. People went out to lunch with co-workers. People sought out more information about vegetarianism and veganism. Some decided they would try going meatless for the whole week!
I am beyond grateful to all of you who read that original post (Meatless Mondays - Give it a try!) and took action with it. Thank you!
This could be the first step in a total change of how one looks at the food they eat. I became vegan because I did not want to be part of the extreme cruelty towards animals who become our food. Yet the benefits of being vegan are endless. One of those benefits, being able to eat amazing food, was a common theme in feedback I received form Meatless Mondays.
Since that original post I have added several links to resources to give you as much information as possible from health, to recipes, to groups working to be a voice for the voiceless. I urge you to check some of these links out.
I wonder what it would look like if all 281 who went meatless this past Monday decide to go meatless EVERY Monday? Or every day?
As always, thank you for reading my blog. Your support is wonderful!
Last week I wrote about the concept of Meatless Mondays and how some communities around the country have embraced the idea. I invited readers and people they know to go meatless this past Monday.
The final number of people who told me they (and/or friends and family) were going meatless this past Monday is at 281.
281 did not eat meat this past Monday. Or fish. And keep in mind that this only includes those that are not already veg or vegan.
To say that I am blown away is an understatement. To read notes from folks and posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter give me so much hope for the future and clearly tells me that there are many people out there interested in not eating meet and embracing a plant-based lifestyle.
Dinner parties were held. People cooked with their spouse or significant other. People went out to lunch with co-workers. People sought out more information about vegetarianism and veganism. Some decided they would try going meatless for the whole week!
I am beyond grateful to all of you who read that original post (Meatless Mondays - Give it a try!) and took action with it. Thank you!
This could be the first step in a total change of how one looks at the food they eat. I became vegan because I did not want to be part of the extreme cruelty towards animals who become our food. Yet the benefits of being vegan are endless. One of those benefits, being able to eat amazing food, was a common theme in feedback I received form Meatless Mondays.
Since that original post I have added several links to resources to give you as much information as possible from health, to recipes, to groups working to be a voice for the voiceless. I urge you to check some of these links out.
I wonder what it would look like if all 281 who went meatless this past Monday decide to go meatless EVERY Monday? Or every day?
As always, thank you for reading my blog. Your support is wonderful!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Gay marriages in New York!
If you were anywhere near a news source yesterday (Sunday, July 24th) you had to have seen a story (at least one) about all of the same-sex marriages performed around New York during the first day of legalized same-sex marriage in the state.
I saw several such stories, tears in my eyes each time.
Over 600 couples wed yesterday. What an incredible day. What an incredible day for one involved in being a voice for the voiceless and who daily works for equality.
I noticed that most judges doing the civil ceremonies did them for free.
On the other side, one county clerk (I think it was a county and not a city) resigned as she could not morally sign off of a same-sex marriage. She was the second in the state to do so.
Mike and I were married on April 30, 2005. We were married in our church, by our pastor, with 160 family and friends there supporting us. It was the best day of my life. I still dream of saying "I DO" to my husband (and of the scrumptious vegan wedding cake we had made!).
Our marriage is not legal. In fact, we called it "A loving act of civil disobedience". Same-sex marriage is now legal in six states and Washington D.C. Not Colorado. In fact, like many states, we have a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Meanwhile, Mike and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary this past April. He is the love of my life and I will keep fighting until we get the same state and federal benefits that any heterosexual couple gets. I do not know the exact number, but did you know that there are over 1,000 benefits that married couples get from the federal government, none extended to same-sex couples?
But back to New York. If you support equality and are as ecstatic about all of the newly married couples in New York as I am, then celebrate! Take your special person out (today is Meatless Monday by the way!), call an elected state or federal official and tell then you support full marriage equality. Make a donation to a local or national group fighting for marriage equality. However you do it, celebrate!
And then pass me some tissue!
Thank you for reading my blog. I am truly grateful. I would love your feedback.
I saw several such stories, tears in my eyes each time.
Over 600 couples wed yesterday. What an incredible day. What an incredible day for one involved in being a voice for the voiceless and who daily works for equality.
I noticed that most judges doing the civil ceremonies did them for free.
On the other side, one county clerk (I think it was a county and not a city) resigned as she could not morally sign off of a same-sex marriage. She was the second in the state to do so.
Mike and I were married on April 30, 2005. We were married in our church, by our pastor, with 160 family and friends there supporting us. It was the best day of my life. I still dream of saying "I DO" to my husband (and of the scrumptious vegan wedding cake we had made!).
Our marriage is not legal. In fact, we called it "A loving act of civil disobedience". Same-sex marriage is now legal in six states and Washington D.C. Not Colorado. In fact, like many states, we have a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Meanwhile, Mike and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary this past April. He is the love of my life and I will keep fighting until we get the same state and federal benefits that any heterosexual couple gets. I do not know the exact number, but did you know that there are over 1,000 benefits that married couples get from the federal government, none extended to same-sex couples?
But back to New York. If you support equality and are as ecstatic about all of the newly married couples in New York as I am, then celebrate! Take your special person out (today is Meatless Monday by the way!), call an elected state or federal official and tell then you support full marriage equality. Make a donation to a local or national group fighting for marriage equality. However you do it, celebrate!
And then pass me some tissue!
Thank you for reading my blog. I am truly grateful. I would love your feedback.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Meatless Mondays Part II
When I wrote last week's blog post my goal was to introduce the idea of Meatless Mondays to people who are currently not vegan or veg and hopefully get people to consider not eating meat on Mondays. I never imagined the response I received, hence a Part II.
I hope you will notice the list of links I have added since the last posting. I added these in an effort to be supportive to the wonderful folks who read the Meatless Mondays blog and told me they would go meatless next Monday. Some of the links are specifically for people here in Colorado and others are websites and blogs that I think are very helpful. Please check them out.
As of Friday, July 22nd, just a couple days after the publishing of my Meatless Mondays blog post, 190 people have committed to going meatless next Monday. This number only includes people who are not already vegan or veg. I am literally blown away and so excited on many levels.
So this blog is for those 190 plus people who will not eat meat (or fish) next Monday.
Thank you!
Thank you for giving this a shot. Thank you for putting aside any concerns you may have or judgements you may have around veganism or vegetarianism.
My hope is that you will not only go meatless next Monday, but every Monday. To do that, you're going to need to find great veg food or cook great veg food. Some of the links I added will help with this. Fortunately for me, Mike is an amazing vegan cook so we eat very well. We also have some wonderful restaurants near us that serve some great veg items.
Regardless of where you live, there is most likely a restaurant near you that has a few veg items. I have found that ethnic restaurants like Indian, Thai, Ethiopian, and Chinese typically have a selection of veg dishes. Just ask the server. The Happy Cow and Veg Guide links can help with finding a place near you to eat.
I also suggest trying to find a local Vegan or Veg Meetup or potluck. I added one such meetup to the links, up in Boulder. This is a great way to meet others who are either already vegan or veg or are taking first steps like you. Being part of a community of others is always helpful as you learn more about going meatless. If you cannot find a meetup in your area you can always start one!
When I became vegan I was fortunate to know of a bi-weekly potluck in Virginia Beach. I was so surprised by the many amazingly delicious vegan dishes and learned a lot about vegan cooking.
Mike and I are fortunate to have a close circle of friends who are either vegan or honor who we are as vegans. Our personal community includes people who eat meat, but who honor our veganism and why we are vegan. We do our best not to alienate people as that does nothing for animals suffering to become food. We try to honor everyone on the path they are on.
And we are SO excited that you are now on this path with us!
We will keep adding links and be as supportive as we can. Have a blast on your first Meatless Monday. Go out to dinner. Invite neighbors over for a great home-cooked meal. Celebrate a world of scrumptious food and delicious recipes.
And then let us know how it went!
Thank you! Thank you for your incredible support of this blog and thank you for going meatless on Monday!
I hope you will notice the list of links I have added since the last posting. I added these in an effort to be supportive to the wonderful folks who read the Meatless Mondays blog and told me they would go meatless next Monday. Some of the links are specifically for people here in Colorado and others are websites and blogs that I think are very helpful. Please check them out.
As of Friday, July 22nd, just a couple days after the publishing of my Meatless Mondays blog post, 190 people have committed to going meatless next Monday. This number only includes people who are not already vegan or veg. I am literally blown away and so excited on many levels.
So this blog is for those 190 plus people who will not eat meat (or fish) next Monday.
Thank you!
Thank you for giving this a shot. Thank you for putting aside any concerns you may have or judgements you may have around veganism or vegetarianism.
My hope is that you will not only go meatless next Monday, but every Monday. To do that, you're going to need to find great veg food or cook great veg food. Some of the links I added will help with this. Fortunately for me, Mike is an amazing vegan cook so we eat very well. We also have some wonderful restaurants near us that serve some great veg items.
Regardless of where you live, there is most likely a restaurant near you that has a few veg items. I have found that ethnic restaurants like Indian, Thai, Ethiopian, and Chinese typically have a selection of veg dishes. Just ask the server. The Happy Cow and Veg Guide links can help with finding a place near you to eat.
I also suggest trying to find a local Vegan or Veg Meetup or potluck. I added one such meetup to the links, up in Boulder. This is a great way to meet others who are either already vegan or veg or are taking first steps like you. Being part of a community of others is always helpful as you learn more about going meatless. If you cannot find a meetup in your area you can always start one!
When I became vegan I was fortunate to know of a bi-weekly potluck in Virginia Beach. I was so surprised by the many amazingly delicious vegan dishes and learned a lot about vegan cooking.
Mike and I are fortunate to have a close circle of friends who are either vegan or honor who we are as vegans. Our personal community includes people who eat meat, but who honor our veganism and why we are vegan. We do our best not to alienate people as that does nothing for animals suffering to become food. We try to honor everyone on the path they are on.
And we are SO excited that you are now on this path with us!
We will keep adding links and be as supportive as we can. Have a blast on your first Meatless Monday. Go out to dinner. Invite neighbors over for a great home-cooked meal. Celebrate a world of scrumptious food and delicious recipes.
And then let us know how it went!
Thank you! Thank you for your incredible support of this blog and thank you for going meatless on Monday!
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