One of the things I really enjoy about being vegan is the connection I have with other people who have chosen to remove animals from their plates. It’s something I immediately have in common with someone else who is vegan.

Being vegan isn’t an easy path, but it’s one that I chose. You’d expect most people in the vegan community to be supportive of those who are vegan. I know I’m supportive of the businesses in town who provide vegan fare and a vegan options.

One of these businesses I support is Food Fight. I often buy things there I can easily get over at People’s Food Coop, New Seasons or Whole Foods because I want to support a vegan business. Apparently the feeling isn’t mutual.

This past weekend Food Fight sponsored a talk at PSU on Sunday afternoon about fur. Sunday was perhaps the single nicest day in weeks and so obviously the turn out was low.  Rather than chalking it up to the ebb and flow of people’s attendence, Food Fight lashed out on their site:

Thanks Shannon.

Hey, just wanted to thank Shannon Keith for coming out for yesterdays Let Live “Skin Trade” talk. Even though all you lazy foodie vegans couldn’t bother to come out for this great free event. We understand, brunch ran long, or there were free samples at Trader Joe’s or whatever, we dig. It’s our pleasure to put effort into these things and have crappy turnouts, it’s cool, don’t sweat it.

So, if you’d like to make it up to Shannon for your weak excuses, please visit her site for her upcoming movie, and if you can help get it finished, she could use some donations. It seems like it’s gonna be a great tool for us to have to help combat the fur industry.

Namaste. Blessings. Peaceful holiday. All that.

I can understand the frustration at a low turn out in an event in Portland. It happens. I used to improv and some nights when the weather turned we’d get a dismal turnout. But what I didn’t do is go online and start lashing out at our audience.

So I’m furious. Apparently it’s not enough for me to support Food Fight by shopping there. In their book, if you aren’t showing up at their events then you might as well not call yourself a ‘REAL VEGAN’.

I don’t think Chad and company are aware just how damaging this elitist attitude is.  Anyone who choses not to eat animals and animal products need to be welcomed to the vegan community with open arms.

Standing up for what you believe is absolutely commendable, but there has to be room to let other people in. It’s possible to be Vegan and not march in Fur Free Fridays or attend a Food Fight Movie Night.

This latest missive isn’t enough for me to stop supporting a vegan grocery store, but it doe piss me off. I mean shouldn’t this support be mutual?