How did a radical gay rights activist pursue animal rights?
PT: I am not just a gay rights activist. As a green left gay activist, I support all struggles against all forms of oppression. My support for animal rights was compounded when I discovered how animal-based research has diverted and hindered studies to find a HIV vaccine and cure. The damage HIV causes is unique to humans. Therefore it is pointless studying other species. Abolitionist: How successful have you been in making the case for animal rights within the gay community Peter? PT: The lesbian and gay community response to animal rights issues has been mixed. Some people are very gayist – they see everything from a sexual orientation perspective, which is rather narrow and limiting. But a lot of gay people had their eyes opened by my expose of how animal research delayed the development life-saving protease inhibitor drugs. Abolitionist: Because primates (except humans) can’t get AIDS why is there so much disinformation away from this fundamental truth? PT: The animal research mode
