As the animal advocate behind Plight of the Hermies and The Every Animal Project, it's my job to yield my platform right now and lend my support to black and brown folks struggling for their lives.

So I wanted to share a story. This story hurts, but it's time to stop hiding from it. This is my story of witnessing racism and homophobia first-hand as part of an interracial gay couple and my subsequent failure to become a true, active ally then. White people: Let's not make the same mistake in 2020.

“We have to wrap our heads around the modes of thinking that were designed precisely to ensure certain humans, animals, and other nonhuman life remain outside our moral and social communities. This is not a precious, academic, intellectual activity. This is absolutely necessary for real change,” writes black vegan activist Syl Ko in Aphro-ism. Until justice and freedom are achieved for our fellow humans, they will never be extended beyond our species.

Join me in being a true ally for black lives. Read and share my story now.