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Vegans Who Wear Leather
by Jen from the zine "cunt attack"

specieism- the belief that their is a superior species and all other species are below it. Essentially what this means is that as the humyn species (after all we are all animals) thinks that they are more superior that non-humyn species (animals) and uses this theory to justify the mass murder of non-humyn species in the name of fashion, science, sport, and food.

Being vegan for me has always been about living a lifestyle free from oppressing animals. This essentially means that in no way do I show any support of the murder, torture, and slavery that animals are forced to endure. Now, I can not tell you now many people I've met who call themselves vegan yet wear leather. For the life of me I can not understand that and always call out the facts that they are not vegan (I know it sounds preachy.) When I talk to people they offer many reasons for wearing leather:

1. they didn't buy it therefore their not supporting it
2. they don’t want to let them go to waste therefore the animal died for nothing
3. some people just don't realize that wearing leather and eating meat are one in the same.

I’d like to respond to these reasons that people have told me. Just because you did not pay money for your shoes or got them second hand this does not take away from from the fact that you are wearing literally the backs of animals on your feet or back or whatever fashionable use you have for them. By wearing those animals skins you are keeping their legacy of death alive. Inevitably you are supporting the leather industry because you have a consumer need for it. It’s a symbol of death and you cant disguise that. Would you wear humyn skins and say “well I didn’t actually buy it so therefore I’m not supporting it”? In the case of not wanting an animal do die for noting, the very fact that it was murdered to satisfy consumer greed is the real waste.

By not wearing leather, it makes a statement that we refuse to support the mass genocide that is being waged against animals. And finally I just can’t even understand people who say it’s wrong to eat animals yet cling tightly to their leather shoes and jackets and their nice warm wool socks. actually I think I do understand. Caring about animals is cool as long as you don't take away someone’s fashion needs. I know this whole thing may seem preachy but I see these statements as hypocritical. All I ask is that if you are you care about animals just examine if you really do or just in certain circumstances. And if you don’t care about animals fully than please don't call yourself vegan.