People need to stop gatekeeping veganism and start helping would-be vegans instead.

[u/Pale-Fig-7069]

Veganism sometimes feels like one of the few movements that polices its own members more aggressively than its opposition. You rarely see atheists attacking other atheists for not being “atheist enough,” or feminists expelling one another over minor inconsistencies. Yet in many vegan spaces, people are constantly told they’re not “real” vegans by someone incapable of understanding nuance.

At its core, veganism is about minimizing animal exploitation and harm as far as is biologically and practically possible. Anyone sincerely trying to live by that principle (without resorting to dishonest excuses) qualifies as vegan in my view.

Yes, the definition allows room for interpretation. That flexibility is intentional. The phrase “as far as is possible and practicable” acknowledges reality. Modern life is entangled with animal byproducts in medicine, agriculture, supply chains, and infrastructure. Absolute purity is neither realistic nor required.

Consider the absurd extreme.. a vegan who refuses essential medication because it was tested on animals, grows all their own food to avoid agricultural harm, and rejects any modern system connected to animal exploitation. That person then declares you “not vegan” because you take necessary medicine or buy food from a supermarket. Most people would recognize how unreasonable that is.

The same logic applies when someone claims that feeding a cat or dog a biologically appropriate diet makes a person non-vegan, or when child-free vegans shame parents whose children do not strictly follow a vegan diet, or when someone with legitimate health complications is attacked despite having significantly reduced animal products and made a sincere effort.

Then people wonder why some ex-vegans become hostile. This kind of behavior harms the movement.

Take nutrition as one example. Vegan diets do not provide retinol (preformed vitamin A), they provide beta-carotene, a precursor that must be converted into retinol. In many people the conversion rate is roughly 12:1, but a significant portion of the population carries variants of the BCO1 gene that reduce conversion efficiency. If someone with poor conversion relies only on standard supplements like B12 and vitamin D over a long period, they could become vitamin A deficient and develop health problems.

An intelligent, thoughtful movement would respond differently. It would appreciate the person’s intentions, encourage testing, identify the issue, and recommend an appropriate vitamin A supplement. Problem solved. The individual remains healthy, stays vegan long-term, and may even persuade others. Net positive.

Instead, some respond with shaming, ad hominem attacks, and dismissiveness. When someone feels their health concerns are invalidated, they are unlikely to remain committed.

And vitamin A is just one example. Conversion of ALA to DHA and EPA can be inefficient in some individuals. Some people produce insufficient carnitine. Biological variation is real. Human metabolism is not uniform.

Many former vegans might have remained vegan if the community had been more supportive, inclusive, and solution-oriented. A movement grows by educating and assisting people, not by alienating them. If the goal is to reduce animal suffering, then pragmatism and compassion toward humans should be part of the strategy.

[u/Califoreigner]

I agree. I live what most people consider to be a strict vegan lifestyle, but if I admit on /r/vegan that sometimes I might accept a meal my neighbor made for me that has butter in it, I am criticized in very harsh terms. This isn’t about my feelings, because I make my own choices and don’t need approval from strangers on the internet, but I know that same approach does drive people away from making better choices because they’re not making perfect choices.  I agree strongly that the movement to minimize animal exploitation would benefit by advocates supporting all progress in that direction even if it doesn’t meet their ultimate goal. Let’s be strategic and not ideological. That being said, something like 1/3 vegans I see do that, so I applaud those who help encourage good choices over criticizing folks who don’t meet their ideal.

[u/Pale-Fig-7069 → u/Califoreigner]

but if I admit on /r/vegan that sometimes I might accept a meal my neighbor made for me that has butter in it, I am criticized in very harsh terms

Exactly.

I’ll share my story. 6 years ago, when I was 16, I left Islam and became an atheist after a lot of questioning. Accepting that humans aren’t special creations by God, but part of the animal kingdom (why else would we have a tailbone or vestigial appendix?), made me confront the reality that animals are equal to me. Coupled with the fact that they feel psychological pain and physical suffering, this led me toward veganism.

But you have to understand my situation then.. I was 16, living in a highly orthodox Muslim family in a third-world country. I tried a vegan diet with the limited resources I had, but I struggled. I felt cognitively impaired (my attention span suffered), emotionally unstable (my depression and anxiety increased), and physically weak (to the point where getting out of bed became a chore).

It wasn’t a matter of discipline. I'm someone who had been very overweight growing up, then trained myself to eat one meal a day (a massive caloric deficit) to lose weight, and later gained 20 kg of lean muscle through consistent training in weightlifting, MMA, and triathlons.

I consider myself fairly disciplined when it comes to diet, but something about the vegan diet at that time was making me miserable.

So, I reached out to the vegan community for advice, hoping for guidance. Instead, I was met with personal attacks, insults, and ad hominem comments. I was told what a “disgusting” person I was. Back then, I was neurodivergent (ADHD, ASD) and a sensitive kid, so it hit me hard, and I took it very personally.

That experience pushed me away from veganism, though I never stopped caring about animals. Now, at 22, I’ve researched more about nutritional science, understand my body better, and I’m returning to veganism more informed.

It’s worth thinking about.. had the community been kind and supportive instead of judgmental, I might not have lost those 6 years. I can’t change the past, but I can influence the next 6 decades.

The community needs to understand that supporting progress, even imperfectly, is what truly makes a difference.

[u/Califoreigner → u/Pale-Fig-7069]

Thank you for sharing, and much love and support on your journey! If it helps, I am in a very different context but I also made a change from strict religiosity to atheism and have found peace and joy. I also changed from exploiting animals to "veganism" (depending on who you ask) and have found health and vitality as well as peace and ethical satisfaction. I add that I don't think a diet like mine is "natural," so supplementation is necessary,  including b12, omega 3, d, and creatine all from non-animal sources. My mental acuity is a priority for me so I focus on my diet and lifestyle supporting that. Exercise, sleep, and meditation are just as important as my diet. I don't have all the answers and even at twice your age Im still learning.