Vegan actor Alan Cumming has collaborated with animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for an upcoming anti-dairy campaign, set to launch at Pride events across the UK in a show of “support for the right of all individuals to be free from oppression.”
For the campaign, the openly gay vegan actor, singer, performer, writer, and producer donned a pink T-shirt with the cheeky slogan “Not a Dairy Queen,” which will be featured in leaflets that PETA will distribute at Pride festivals.
This is not the first year that the Scottish-American actor has taken to using his platform to stand up for animals. In 2016, volunteers passed out postcards featuring Cumming wearing his PETA “Not a Dairy Queen Shirt,” featuring information on the cruelties of the dairy industry as well as the health benefits of a vegan diet. At an event following one of Cumming’s shows, volunteers also passed out free vegan ice cream.
Well-known for his appearances in stage, television, and film productions, Cumming went vegan after following a vegetarian diet for several years. In a 2016 video, the vegan actor said that after cutting dairy out of his diet, his rosacea disappeared, his vocals improved, and he experienced a spike in energy. “I feel younger,” Cumming said, “I am not asking my body to cope with things that it’s not necessarily good at coping with.”
The actor has also pushed for fast-food chain Dairy Queen to carry vegan options, citing the increased demand for dairy-free foods as reason enough for the restaurant to offer vegan ice cream options.
After accepting a role in the CBS crime drama “Instinct,” Cumming spoke to the LA Times briefly about the subject of vegan catering for actors and film crew. “My immortal words: salad is not a vegan option,” he said. The actor’s push for vegan options did not go unnoticed. “Teamsters would come up from behind the truck and go,’Alan, I just want to thank you for the vegan options.’”
Cumming is not the only openly queer vegan celebrity to spread a compassionate message. Miley Cyrus, who has discussed her pansexuality, designed this year’s Converse Pride Collection. Net proceeds from the collection will go to charities that support LGBTQIA+ youth.
Image Credit: Mark Ruiz
