No, I am not just a 'vegan'

Labels. They're for clothes, not humans.

I don't reject the label 'vegan', because I love what it stands for. But similarly I don't like being defined as simply that. It creates an image of who I am without any other knowledge of me.

Being a vegan is difficult. I don't just mean it's hard finding vegan food at a restaurant or whatever, in fact that's pretty easy now I'm used to it. What's difficult is hearing people in your life tell you that they think veganism is stupid, or have them question you, often in a derogatory way, asking what you eat, asking if you miss bacon etc. I'm often the subject of jokes, all meant lightheartedly I think, but nonetheless, not something I want.

Vegans are often put into a generic category: hippies who like to moan at meat eaters. This is not true. I cook my omnivore friends bacon. I even touch it with my vegan fingers. I ate meat before, but I wont eat it again. That doesn't mean I think everyone should become a vegan.

I am a vegan because I want to be. It's best for my personal health, because I have extensively researched it and ensured that I am eating the right nutrients etc. I choose to be vegan because I love animals and I don't want to eat them. Now tell me why I deserve to be interrogated for my personal choices when they don't affect anyone else?

I get it. There are the silly vegans who moan about everything and live in a bubble. That's not the majority. There's good and bad everybody, some are more upfront and passionate. Some are also too preachy which I don't agree with. I am just a normal person (well, the normal bit is debatable) who eats a lot of great food and tries to not hurt people or animals. I don't ever preach or moan to others about their eating habits. So why are they doing it to me?

Please, next time you take the piss out of vegans, or ask a vegan where they get their protein, remember that vegans are just people who eat a vegan diet. Not another breed of human. If you don't want a 'vegan' to discuss your eating habits or ask you why you eat meat, then please mind your own business and don't ask me if I miss steak. (I don't, ftr).