Above: PETA's President Ingrid Newkirk with Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock
Photos: Dave Hogan and Evan Agostini/Image Direct; Walter Jelacic; Anthony Brown
One thousand of PETA’s friends gathered in New York’s glittering Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to help PETA blow out 21 candles on our vegan birthday cake and recognize some of the wonderful people who have accomplished miracles for animals.
Guests sipped green apple martinis and dined on Eggplant and Fire-Roasted Pepper Roulade, Peruvian Smoked Seitan, vegan Crispy Soul “Chicken,” dairy-free “Vice Cream,” and other delicacies from a dozen restaurants. Among celebrity guests like Steve Buscemi and The Sopranos’ Aida Turturro, they browsed among one-of-a-kind silent auction items, including the tuxedo shirt worn to the Oscars by Joaquin Phoenix (whose lovely mother, Heart, attended) and a portrait of Linda McCartney by Peter Max.
The cohosts: Rue McClanahan, Bill Maher, and Pamela Anderson. The presenters: Ricki Lake, Kevin Nealon, Amy Sedaris, Todd Oldham, and Mark Bouwer. The honorees: Nanci and Leslie Alexander, María Celeste Arrarás, Harry Bliss, Marguerite Gordon, Steve Lewis, Paula Lyon, Patrick McDonnell, Marcus Schenkenberg, Russell Simmons, and Skip Trimble.
“I want to thank PETA for always having a voice for the animals and for all their hard work,” said Charlize Theron, recognized for campaigning against puppy mills and to save a tame rhino threatened by hunters in South Africa.
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Honoree The “Lady” Bunny
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During his acceptance speech, German comedian Dirk Bach, who features animal rights topics on his comedy show, Lukas, stripped off his jacket to show the audience the “Animal Liberation” logo embroidered on the back.
“It is fantastic to be here with all you beautiful people who care so deeply about animals and do all this great work,” said Paul McCartney, who presented the Linda McCartney Memorial Award to Chrissie Hynde for her years of dedication to animal rights, especially her defense of cows in India who are tortured in the illegal skin trade. “Linda was a great friend and a wonderful activist,” Chrissie said. “The best part of being in a rock-and-roll band, for me, has been being able to support PETA.”
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Our deepest appreciation to these companies for their generous support of PETA’s anniversary party:
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Major Sponsors
At Last Naturals, Inc.
Benihana Vegetable Delight
Pureology Serious Colour Care
Turtle Mountain, Inc.
Associate Sponsors
Burns Studio
Communications Corporation of America
The Diane Warren Foundation
John Paul Mitchell Systems
Lisa Grubb and the Happy Dog Gallery
The Peter Max Studio
Plantrageous
Styling Technology Corporation (Abba)
Additional Sponsors
Ginny’s Vegan Foods
Travel Meals
Via Vegan
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The media were out in force as cohost Bill Maher arrived.
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Presenter Amy Sedaris
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Chrissie Hynde and Paul McCartney
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Honoree Russell Simmons
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Charlize Theron
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The Sopranos’ Aida Turturro
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 “In the cartoon world, animals can talk. But animals don’t have much of a voice in this world. I try to speak for them. Thank you, [PETA], for being so damn radical!”
—“Mutts” cartoonist Patrick McDonnell
“PETA’s investigators are the true heroes. They do what I wouldn’t have the guts to do.”
—Rue McClanahan
 “We’re in a new century. The world’s going to change so much that the meat trade is going out the window.”
—Paul McCartney
“Dan Mathews approached [my husband and me] and asked if we’d take part in an anti-fur protest. It’s one of the proudest things I’ve ever done.”
—Ricki Lake
“This is the 21st anniversary of PETA. Twenty years ago, people didn’t know. Now, when people think of doing something to an animal, they go, ‘Oh, s-t, I don’t want to get PETA on my case.’”
—Bill Maher
 “As a news anchor, I used to get reports all the time of things PETA accomplished. Once started working with PETA, I realized that they are so effective because they are like a laser beam. They spot an injustice, they work on it, they put all their efforts there, and they get things going.”
— María Celeste Arrarás
“People think PETA is confrontational. Well, we’re never as confrontational as to trap an animal or put a gun to its head.”
—Chrissie Hynde
“These guys—they just do so much work and they’ve accomplished so much.”
— Pamela Anderson
“I became vegetarian when I was 9. I’ve been vegan now for a year and a half. I’ve been a member of PETA for years. PETA doesn’t give anyone a break. I love that about them.”
—Rachel Minor
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