By Dan Hanley
I have been thinking a lot about intersectionality these days, more than usual. I would love to hear from you about intersectionality and what it means to you as a person and as an activist.
For me, this is all about thinking, and living as if, our social justice movements considering all of the intersections of identity, privilege and oppression in order to be just and effective. You might have read this exact definition before as it comes from author and activist (among many things) Ijeoma Oluo. It’s the best definition of intersectionality I have found for me.
I wrote “for me” as I realize that there could be many definitions of this. This is the purpose of this blog post. I want to hear about your definition and how you incorporate intersectionalism in your life and activism. I am super teachable.
I am a gay, white, cisgender, vegan, person of faith, sober, male who works daily in human rights and animal rights to make the world a better and safer place for all living beings.
Intersectionality is crucial.
Thanks for reading. I would be super grateful for your thoughts.
If you’d like to learn more about Ijeoma Oluo, click here.
By Dan Hanley
I played around with the title of this post for a bit.
I was about to go with “Support vegan companies”. Then I remembered that not all vegan companies are aligned with my values. The list goes much bigger when one includes companies that simply offer vegan products, as opposed to being an all vegan company.
It’s not always easy to stay informed on whether or not the company that sells your favorite ice cream, toothpaste or fresh vegetables is aligned as closely as possible with who you are as a person. I have been trying to do this almost my entire life and I recently saw an updated list of companies that test and animals and was surprised to see two products that I use. The self-education never ends!
I’d also like to say that my expectations are higher for companies now than they used to be. I want companies I support to do the right thing and let folks know they’re doing it. I would also like companies to speak out for the right thing.
The whole process of knowledge begins with us asking the questions. It begins with you asking the questions.
The internet is a good place to start. If you are unaware of how your favorite company is or isn’t aligned with who you are as a person, Google their name with your cause. Example is “Does Gardein support LGBTQ employees?”. You will most likely have lots of information in a second. Of course this is a wide open question, and it will catch and pro or con stories out there.
You can also directly email or call the company, or ask on their Facebook page or Twitter feed.
Many advocacy groups keep lists of companies that do or do not support their cause.
My hope is that this post encourages you to ask questions. I also hope that your favorite companies are indeed aligned with you and your beliefs. What I am learning is that these policies of support or not change, and many companies are bought and sold and that could change things.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help.
By Dan Hanley
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.” Elie Wiesel
Time flies. It’s already mid-February and the opportunity to change things in Congress is only nine months away.
The recent shooting in a Florida high school has many more people enraged and promising to be and stay engaged. One of the constant themes of my blog and my social media is to encourage people to get politically active and to vote. Voting, and encouraging your circle to do the same, is vitally important this year, and we have a chance to create big changes in Congress.
I understand that there are harsh feelings toward the President and believe me, I get it. The real power here, though, and those being complicit in allowing the President to do much of what he has done, is Congress. In order for them to stay complicit with the President, they need your support. They need your vote.
It’s not a done deal. There are amazing groups doing impactful work that is bringing in great candidates to run against those complicit, while others are raising money for them and working on get out the vote campaigns. Meanwhile, dozens of state legislative seats have turned from red to blue in the last year, a really good sign. We can’t rest.
Millions are going to be spent to ensure that the complicit ones keep their seat, their power. Add that to many who support those complicit, and we know this will not be easy. We also know that it’s possible.
No matter where you live in the US I urge you to get active, to support a candidate that believes in your values and that can unseat a complicit one. Even in the most red of districts this is possible.
Vote. If not registered to vote, do that now.
If you have moved recently update your voter registration. Take the time to ensure that you cannot be denied the right to vote on election day.
Vote early if you can in your area.
Make a donation to a candidate who is trying to unseat an elected who is complicit.
Be vocal. Our silence aids those complicit with the President.
Thank you for reading this post!
P.S. Here are some links that might be helpful:
Vote Smart (look up your electeds)
Indivisible
Run for Something
MoveOn.org
By Dan Hanley
It’s been four years since my last half marathon, five years since my first. I remember the day well. Well, the day of the run and the day I decided to do the run. My nonprofit was fundraising through the Colfax Marathon in Denver and I came home telling Mike that it would be great for us to run and fundraise for the half marathon portion. Neither of us had ever run nearly that far (13.1 miles) yet we decided to go for it. I was 47.
Two months later we crossed the finish line. I loved everything about it. I felt super healthy training for the run and I was honestly shocked that I finished.
In three weeks I hope to cross another finish line, this one for the Encinitas Half Marathon in Encinitas, CA. The route of the race is what drew me to this one, with most of the race being along the Pacific ocean. I know the area well, one of our favorite spots in southern California, and I can’t wait to run.
The day of the race I will be 52. Training this time has not been as easy mainly because my life seems to be busier than last time and training takes time. I recently finished a ten mile training run so I am definitely getting close. And to say that I am excited is an understatement. I am super stoked.
One of the great things about training is that there are so many people out there who inspire me. They send encouraging notes and share advice. My training runs are at the LA Arboretum and the morning walkers have gotten used to seeing me several times, offering waves and thumbs up as I run by. And I feel good. I feel good, both physically and mentally.
To all of you out there who have supported me in any way, thank you. To anyone thinking about training for a run, it’s definitely an experience that will add to your life. It has added so much to mine. There is a of support online, especially in the vegan community. I will let you know how it goes!
By Dan Hanley
I know there is a lot going on in the world. I’ll say that right up front.
Today I can post a tweet attacking the government, Congress, the Nunes memo and a whole host of things I disagree with. I can then logoff and enjoy family time with my husband. Later I can meet with friends and neighbors who are part of The Resistance and walk home without fear. This could change in our country, and for many it already has. Indeed, activists are in jail in the US right now. Unlike their fellow activists in Iran, they do not face immediate execution.
Meanwhile, activists just like me, who have taken very similar actions in speaking out against their government, are sitting bloodied and beaten in jail cells in Iran. They may have protested in street protests or taken their hijab off in protest of the mandatory wearing of it. They may be a Kurd who is fighting for rights for the Kurds. Regardless, they are enemies of the state and are dealt with in a brutal fashion.
All of these activists I have learned about from social media threads on Twitter. They include Ramin Hossein Panahi (above right), Atena Daemi (top right), Golrokh Iraee (top left) and Hedayat Abdollahpour (above left). I admit that I know only very little of these four. What I know for sure is that they are in jail and could be executed.
Will you please help me spread the word about these activists? I know they are not alone, and if we as a world-wide activist community spread the word and speak out, these four and others may have a chance to live.
By Dan Hanley
I have always loved beets.
On my journey to eating more whole foods and to embrace a more healthy lifestyle, during my last grocery outing I bought more fresh veggies than processed food. Don’t get me wrong, I love processed foods. And at 51, I am once again trying to fit them in as a treat and not part of my daily eating ritual.
The fresh veggies I purchased included beets with the greens still attached. I knew beet greens were good, and was reminded of how delicious they are when I cooked them up as a side for dinner. Simple really, just a little oil, salt, pepper and garlic and voila!
With the beets themselves, I cut them up and steamed them and added them to a few dinners during the week. Super easy and in my readings I am learning that beets can do my body good.
Check them out next time you’re in the market.
If you have a favorite beet recipe, I would love to know about it!
By Dan Hanley
As in many things, if you don’t die, you get to celebrate more and more anniversaries.
This week I celebrate 22 years of being vegan. If you stay vegan and don’t die, this is what can happen.
I became vegan because of animals, in that I wanted to be as least complicit as possible in their torture and suffering.
The world has obviously changed since I became vegan. I recently heard ona podcast that from 1996 to 2016 dairy milk sales dropped 25%. That’s intense. And that makes me happy.
The bigger changes in my life since becoming vegan are not so drastic. I’m married to another vegan, although he was not vegan when we started to date. We cook more at home than going out. We try, and mostly succeed, in eating more whole foods and less processed foods, although I must say that I love some processed foods. And desserts.
I’m not a perfect vegan and that is not my goal. I want to be the best I can be, be an amazing husband, be a voice for the voiceless, and share things I learn through this blog. I want to do as little harm as possible to animals, humans, and the earth and I want to be of greatest service to others.
My veganism continued beyond a few weeks because of kind people, vegan potlucks, learning to cook, and keeping in mind that my veganism is bigger than me, that my food choices prior to being vegan included paying people to kill animals who did not want to die just for my taste buds.
On this blog I try to provide some helpful websites. If you’re interested click the page at the top.
Thanks for reading.
P.S. The photo is of me and Lilly, the day we adopted her from the Pasadena Humane Society in September of 2017. She is not as terrified these days.
By Dan Hanley
It is difficult at best to get accurate news about what has been happening in Iran in the last week. I do my best to find credible threads on Twitter and pass them along.
What I know, and the sole reason for this post, is that thousands are protesting even though they know they can be jailed, tortured and even killed.
The least I can do as a blogger is to help spread the word.
If you are on Twitter, search #IranProtests for current updates. Then retweet what you find. As fellow activists, we can support those risking their lives by spreading the word on the protests.
By Dan Hanley
I skipped a couple of years of doing this and am super excited to once
again share some of our favorite things. Some of these you may know, and
hopefully I will introduce you to some new things/places. All of these
are based on what we love. Just to be clear, we are not paid by any
group or company nor do I as a blogger ever accept free items. I feel
this is important to say so that you, the awesome reader, know we just
simply love these favorites. Please be patient with the randomness of
the list!
Best Non-profit – Toronto Pig Save
Best Non-profit you might not have heard of – Animal Help Now
Best breakfast at home – Isa’s Puffy Pillow Pancakes
Best lunch in LA during the work day – Happy Family on S. Atlantic (Monterey Park)
Best treat in LA – Sweet Kale Shake at Sun Cafe
Best Mexican food in Denver – Tarascos
Best social media chef/cook – Christina Cooks
Best beach in LA area – Zuma beach
Best beach in San Diego area – Torrey Pines State Beach
Best brunch in San Diego – Bar Kindred
Best vegan creamer – Ripple
Best vegan pop up – Cena Vegan
Best “I need a sweet tooth fix” place – Donut Friend
Best veggie burger – Gardein’s beefless burger
Best vegan cheese – We have two here. Seriously tied. Miyokos and Punk Rawk
Most made recipe this year at home – Fava Bean Risotto in “Vegan Pressure Cooking”
Best meal when anywhere near LAX – Stuff I Eat
Best hotel for a Denver visit – Hotel Born
Best audio book – “Black Detroit”
Best song – “Demons” by Imagine Dragons
Best hike in LA – Griffith Park
This list is not complete. I’m sure I could keep adding, and as the new year is approaching I think I really need to post this.
By Dan Hanley
Every year I write about World AIDS Day and every year it is the least read blog post I write for the year.
Yet I keep writing them. I guess I keep writing them so that the world doesn’t forget about amazing people like my dear friend Felix Godinez who lost his battle against HIV/AIDS, along with 43,000+ others, in 1992.
If you are any type of activist, especially if you are an activist for the liberation of anyone, HIV/AIDS is an important issue. Even if you don’t know anyone who battled HIV/AIDS, it effects you.
If you work against poverty, racism, prejudice, white supremacy, bigotry and/or hate, HIV/AIDS is an important issue for you. If you work towards total liberation, HIV/AIDS is an important issue for you.
Last year just over 1,000,000 people died due to HIV?AIDS related causes. “Getting to Zero”, one of the themes this year, will take work from all of our communities.
By Dan Hanley
The idea of cooking meals at home rather than going out to eat could be met with a simple “of course” from some while being completely foreign to others. And to clarify, cooking in this post means actually cooking, not putting something frozen into a microwave.
I have a long history with fast food and processed food. When I started dating Mike my typical meal consisted of frozen Amy’s burritos or veggie burgers with tater tots. Whenever we do a meal similar to that these days we call it a “Dan’s meal”. For us, some days it’s perfect for us to just cook up some veggie burgers and add a salad with dark greens to it. Or even tater tots! But there are also several quick meals that we can prepare.
One I talk about all of the time is super simple, super affordable and super good for you. Note: I am not a dietician or nutritionist. There are three components: beans, rice, dark leafy greens. In a skillet I start with garlic and onions in olive oil, then add a can of beans. For me it’s usually black beans but pick a bean. I add cooked rice to this, again your choice. You can also add quinoa. Then it gets even more fun! Your choice of greens! My go-to greens are spinach, Swiss chard or kale. Once the greens are added you can go for it and personalize it even more with more veggies and spices. I add a little cayenne pepper and if I have peppers or broccoli that needs to be used I toss those in.
The diversity of this dish means you can switch around all of the time. Once the rice is cooked it takes about five minutes in a skillet. Cost wise, it’s tough to beat. I get three bunches of greens for $5.00 at our market and am always looking for beans on sale. You can also buy whole beans in bulk and soak them.
Try this and let me know what you think! Remember, you can take this idea and make it your own with your own favorite beans and veggies.
By Dan Hanley
With the elections on November 7th, Danica Roem became front page news.
What I love most about her is that she took on someone who spent his life demonizing people like her, and taking away rights from people like her. She had had enough when he decided that he should control where she could or could not use the bathroom. Although I do not know her, she comes across as someone who is kind, very intelligent, and one who cares about other people.
I remember reading about her months before election day and thinking how wonderful it would be if she could win. I sure didn’t think she could at that time.
Her opponent had held his seat for over 20 years. He continued his bigoted ways throughout the campaign.
Danica rocked her campaign. She actually knocked on doors and spent hundreds of hours speaking with voters about issues important to them.
I could go on and on. I will leave you with a couple of points:
Danica Roem was pissed off and took action.
So did others in Virginia and around the country.
In one state delegate race in Newport News, VA, over 10,000 more people voted than two years ago and the difference between the two candidates is 12 votes.
Register to vote. Vote. Get active. Run for office.
By Dan Hanley
If you don’t die and you stay vegan, you eventually end up having spent years of your life being vegan. This has been the case with me. Before I knew it, I had been vegan for 21 years and was about to turn 51.
Veganism has changed, or evolved, quite a bit since my early days of being vegan. And life changes. Two years ago Mike and I moved to the LA area, or the place I call the vegan capital of the world. If you want to blow your mind with vegan options, come to LA. Whether you are grocery shopping, in a vegan restaurant, or trying one of hundreds ethnic cuisine restaurants that offer incredibly tasty vegan dishes.
I am totally fortunate to have so many people who read this blog actually connect with me. I love that! Most do not live in the vegan capital of the world or have vegan options all over the place. Regardless of where you live, you can create a vegan community. It can start with something as simple as a neighborhood potluck where all dishes have to be vegan (or plant-based if that is easier to go with where you live). Mention your veganism on social media, and search for social media outlets in your area that include anything about veganism. Go to your favorite restaurant and ask if they’ll add more or better vegan options, or if they would consider doing a meatless Monday special every Monday.
There is honestly so much going on in regards to veganism. Google vegfest and your state and see what pops up. This might mean you going on a road trip but it could be a blast. If you live where there is a small, local paper, see if you can send in a favorite vegan recipe that might draw others in your area to your new community. Host a potluck. Go to a local run or race and wear your favorite vegan tee. The ideas are endless.
Lastly, be kind to one another. I say this a lot. Everyone is on their own path and that is totally evident in the vegan community.
By the way, the photo is of me in one of my favorite tees. Purchased from Action for Animals.
By Dan Hanley
Before I begin I’d like to give those of you new to The Gay Vegans blog a
friendly reminder that I am not a professional book reviewer. I hardly
ever will review a cookbook, in fact this is only the second one in six
years of having my blog. I write this not to lower your expectations for
what you are about to read but to put a spotlight on this specific
cookbook, one I am ecstatic to still be exploring.
“NYC Vegan” is full of recipes that make me salivate
while turning the pages. Before agreeing to support the book’s blog
tour, Mike and I had already pre-ordered copies and were super excited
when our copy came. We wanted the cookbook because we have been
following Michael and Ethan on social media for years, paying special
attention to all of the amazing food they would share. Another reason we
wanted the cookbook was because Michael and Ethan are two of the most
compassionate people we know, and we have been fortunate to have spent a
little time with them. We knew their new cookbook would be a great
addition to anyone who includes compassion while cooking.
“NYC Vegan” brings me to New York City. It also brings
me into the lives of Michael and Ethan, which is awesome. I love the
personal notes from them that are scattered throughout the book. With
these and the little bit I know about them, I all of a sudden had a list
of the recipes I wanted to try.
It won’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me that of all of the recipes
in the book I chose the Diner-Style pancakes to try first. I am a
pancake guy. Recipes on my list to try next are the Lasagna, the
Shepherdless Pie and the Colcannon. I loved reading the Colcannon
recipe! I’m Irish and have never heard about it. Reading through the
cookbook I learned so many other things, always a treat.
Important factors about a cookbook that I would promote to friends and
family include the ingredients (would I already have them in the house
and/or are they easy to find) as well the ease of the recipe. Most times
I just want to make a meal so it has to be easy, and easy for me means
really easy.
The Diner-Style Pancakes in “NYC Vegan” meet both of
these factors. We had all of the ingredients and I think most of you
will have them. The recipe was easy to follow and I never felt that I
was lost or couldn’t understand something. The last thing you want to
feel when trying a new recipe is stupid.
Before I knew it, I was handing Mike a plate of pancakes. I added
blueberries, which is usual for me and pancakes. They were delicious and
I will try their suggested additions of chocolate chips, strawberries
or bananas in the weekends to come.
Aside from the recipes, the layout of the book, the photography and the
information on culinary New York City all added to why I love this book.
“NYC Vegan” provides an escape to the flavors and cuisines of New York City.
By Dan Hanley
As I ecstatically watch the number of vegans grow substantially, I see all kinds of people deciding to go vegan for a variety of reasons. I love that, and thought it was a good time to put out there again why I am vegan.
Simply put, I want to have as little to do with animal cruelty as possible. Being vegan doesn’t mean I am not 100% complicit in cruelty, it just means to me that I do everything I can do to be as least complicit in cruelty as possible.
After 21 years of being vegan, I’ve learned a lot. A few simple thoughts I have held onto are:
Pepsi and potato chips are vegan.
I can spend $50 for dinner at a vegan restaurant or $10 (or less) at home.
I’m not going to agree with or get along with every vegan. There has to be more than veganism for that to happen.
I don’t settle for fitting in. I want to belong.
I have so much more to learn about veganism and nutrition. (I have a couple of links on the Helpful Websites page to people I learn from regarding nutrition)
The world wide web is chock full of recipes, action alerts, restaurant reviews, vegfests, animal sanctuaries, activism sites,potlucks, meetups, speakers and vegan products.
Veganism is not easy for everyone.
And, as the day I went vegan, billions of living beings suffer every year just for someone’s taste buds.
By the way, the photo above is from Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary.
By Dan Hanley
The idea of cooking meals at home rather than going out to eat could be met with a simple “of course” from some while being completely foreign to others. And to clarify, cooking in this post means actually cooking, not putting something frozen into a microwave.
I have a long history with fast food and processed food. When I started dating Mike my typical meal consisted of frozen Amy’s burritos or veggie burgers with tater tots. Whenever we do a meal similar to that these days we call it a “Dan’s meal”. For us, some days it’s perfect for us to just cook up some veggie burgers and add a salad with dark greens to it. Or even tater tots! But there are also several quick meals that we can prepare.
One I talk about all of the time is super simple, super affordable and super good for you. Note: I am not a dietician or nutritionist. There are three components: beans, rice, dark leafy greens. In a skillet I start with garlic and onions in olive oil, then add a can of beans. For me it’s usually black beans but pick a bean. I add cooked rice to this, again your choice. You can also add quinoa. Then it gets even more fun! Your choice of greens! My go-to greens are spinach, Swiss chard or kale. Once the greens are added you can go for it and personalize it even more with more veggies and spices. I add a little cayenne pepper and if I have peppers or broccoli that needs to be used I toss those in.
The diversity of this dish means you can switch around all of the time. Once the rice is cooked it takes about five minutes in a skillet. Cost wise, it’s tough to beat. I get three bunches of greens for $5.00 at our market and am always looking for beans on sale. You can also buy whole beans in bulk and soak them.
Try this and let me know what you think! Remember, you can take this idea and make it your own with your own favorite beans and veggies.
By Dan Hanley
“Adopt don’t shop” is a common phrase in my communities. It basically
asks people to adopt a shelter animal when considering the next addition
to their family and to not purchase from a pet store. The underlying
idea here is that when one purchases from a pet store they are directly
supporting puppy mills, and animal cruelty.
It’s difficult to imagine that in 2017 puppy mills still exist. Laws
have changed and some big-time animal exploiters have lost their license
to breed animals because of activists shining the light on their horrid
practices, yet puppy mills are still alive and well.
This topic is not only important to me as a vegan and animal rights
blogger, but because one of our family members came from a puppy mill.
We adopted Rose almost four years ago after she was rescued from a puppy
mill that had been raided. Her first seven years were in a cage, having
litter after litter so someone could profit off of her small body. By
the time she was placed into my husband’s arms when we first met her,
she was a dog living in fear of everything, had lost most of her hair,
and had a mouthful of teeth that all had to be pulled due to no dental
care her entire life.
Every single tooth.
As is the case with many animals who have been abused, huge doses of
love helped Rose go from a life of cruelty to one where she was adored
on a daily basis. Those first few months were not easy, yet day by day
Rose learned to trust that this was her life now, and that she was safe
with her two dads who were always going to protect her and love on her.
Our family of friends also helped with this process, always spending
time loving on Rose when visiting.
We were so lucky to have found Rose and my wish is that every animal in a
puppy mill can know the love Rose knew. I say “knew” because last week
we had to have Rose put to sleep after a sudden illness took over her
body. Our hearts are crushed and we are devastated, and with all of that
intense pain we still are so grateful that she found us and that we got
to spend at least a few years with her. Our lives have been forever
changed by knowing Rose and having her as part of our family.
As we have mourned Rose, it became clear to both us that we have to do
more as part of our animal rights activism to shine a light on the
ugliness of puppy mills. Hence this blog post.
If you would like to read more about puppy mills, here is a good article from Rolling Stone: puppy mills.
By Dan Hanley
So much going on. A few things happening in my head:
It’s not enough for me to not be racist; I must be anti-racist.
I can do more and I need to do more.
I am courageous, yet I want to have the courage of these college students protesting the Friday night of the Charlottesville violence.
If I don’t know everything there is to know about white supremacy, I can learn.
I am sending love to all of those hurting right now. I’m in. I’m on your side.
By Dan Hanley
This photo is from a sign in suburban Detroit in 1942. I found it while searching for a photo of the Detroit riots, or unrest, or actions because of police violence, or however you the reader chooses to refer to the events in July of 1967.
I’d like to ask you to learn a little bit (or a little bit more) about the Detroit unrest in July of 1967. If you are interested in racism, poverty and/or activism you will be especially keen on this. I learned a lot last weekend by following the Detroit Free Press’ twitter @Detroit_1967 which was real-time tweets based on the timing of the unrest, 50 years ago this month. I have also learned more from Detroit writers who have been publishing columns on the new movie “Detroit”.
I was one year old during the unrest. I was in Royal Oak, in the safety of the white suburbs. My dad was at work next to Tiger Stadium and stayed there for a couple of days. Detroit was the city my family immigrated to in the 1920’s, first to a tenement building on John R. not too far from the Catholic Cathedral and then to Hawthorne just south of 8 mile.
I grew up loving Detroit, as I still do. The unrest in the summer of 1967 is still heartbreaking, and not surprising. I continue to learn as much as I can.
Thanks for reading.
