Vegans spurn meat-eaters as sexual partners

Followers of a vegan lifestyle are not just abstaining from meat and animal products but also from relationships with meat-eaters.

Vegansexualism is a phenomenon that started in New Zealand in 2007 and is now becoming “mainstream” in the United States and Europe.

There are many groups on Facebook dedicated to single vegans and vegetarians looking for a partner with the same dietary requirements and online dating services like Veggie Flirt or Single Vegetarian.

The trend was inspired by the renowned work of Ludwig Feuerbach “Man is what he eats”; in which the German philosopher stated that “there is a link between body and psyche and to think better we need to eat better.”

Annie Pots, a researcher at the University of Canterbury and a director of the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies, coined the word “vegansexual” after she did a study on the life of vegans, finding out that the majority of them “feel profoundly different and detached” from the rest of the population.

Mrs Potts surveyed 157 vegans and vegetarians on the topic of cruelty-free living and the questions ranged from what they think of roasted chicken to their sexual preferences. Many of the women interviewed stated that they were attracted to people who eat meat but that they would reject them as intimate partners because of what their bodies are made of: “animal carcasses.”

“It’s a completely new trend, and if Feuerbach was right, then we need to worry about all the body fluids of meat-eaters”, said Mrs Potts during an interview with the New York Times.

We asked members of Brunel Vegetarian and Vegan Society about “cruelty-free” relationships and according to them this trend is not about rejecting people because of their "bodies made of dead animals” but choosing a person with the right mindset.

Saira Doherty, chair of the society, said: “It's more like looking for a partner who shares the same belief system/values as you do. Much like people who prefer to date others of the same faith as them.

“I think it's definitely much easier but I personally do not prioritise whether or not the person is a vegan. I prioritise them holding similar values to my own. Actually, this is why my partner turned vegan on their own accord. They already had pre-existing values that compliment a vegan lifestyle i.e. ethics, environmental concerns, healthy lifestyle. They just needed to be introduced to the idea of veganism”, she added.

Another member of the society, who wished not to be named, has on the other hand a boyfriend who eats meat but she said that it would be easier if they both followed a similar diet.

“We have had several discussions on the topic, especially because it is something I am very passionate about. He has been making a lot of efforts which I am appreciative of. I also understand that veganism is a personal journey and takes time but it is not unusual that people want to be in relationships with those who they have things in common,” she said.