When I met my husband, David, he was a vegetarian. I was not. I was eating all kinds of animal products. I credit him, along with PETA, with having had the biggest impact on my decision to go vegan. (David actually went vegan first.) Once I went vegan, I started meeting all kinds of other people who followed the same lifestyle, many of them men. And I discovered that most vegan men have something in common—they’re kind.

To me, a real man is a kind man. He’s compassionate toward all living beings. He shows his strength through his warmth, his helpfulness, and his gentleness. He’s considerate of the feelings of others, humans and other animals alike.

Men who follow a vegan lifestyle live by the credo “do no harm.” They empathize with animals who are raised for food or clothing, used as experimental objects in laboratories, and exploited in the entertainment industry. A real man knows that animals have feelings and families and just want to live their lives in peace, as we do.

I sat down with my friend Gary, a longtime vegan, and asked him about his vegan lifestyle.

When and why did you first go vegan, Gary?

I went vegan in 1990 for ethical reasons, for the animals. It was an easy switch for me. Once I found out how animals on factory farms were treated, I couldn’t let them suffer for my food and fashion choices. It was just that simple.

Was it challenging, or was it an easy lifestyle change?

Cheese was the hardest thing to give up—isn’t that what everyone says? In 1990, there were hardly any vegan food or clothing choices, so, yes, in the early years it was a bit challenging. Today, with the influx of faux cheeses and meats, along with the numerous vegetarian and vegan restaurants that are opening, it’s extremely easy being vegan.

Do you have any advice for men out there who are considering adopting a vegan lifestyle?

Put yourself in their paws, hooves, feathers, and fins. Try to imagine what your life would be like if you were murdered for your flesh, violently shorn or killed for your fur, beaten, abused, tortured, separated from those you love, and imprisoned. Like I said, it’s a simple choice. I choose to live my life with kindness and compassion, showing respect for all living beings, just the way that I would expect to be treated by others. Give it a try—it’s easy. And I can sleep at night knowing no animal suffered and/or died because of my lifestyle choices.

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Left to right: Gary, Sid, and David are three PETA Primers who are longtime vegans and real men in my book!

Gary is a shining example of a vegan man. He wouldn’t hurt a fly, he will go out of his way to help an animal in need, he wears his animal rights T-shirts to work with pride, he donates generously to PETA and other animal-protection organizations, and he appreciates all the wonderful meals that his vegan wife, Sandy, cooks for him.

Wearing your compassion on your sleeve and showing kindness and respect for all living beings are what being a real man is all about. So come on, guys, show your manliness—go vegan for life!

Want more information on cruelty-free living for men? Check out the “For Men” section on PETA’s Living website.