blogs.westword / CC

… in the kitchen. Freshman U.S. Representative Jared Polis, the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress as a non-incumbent, may not be a vegan (yet), but he lives like one, thanks to his partner, animal rights activist and writer Marlon Reis.

In an article about the Colorado Democrat, Roll Call reports,

[Polis'] partner is a vegan, and although [Polis] eats meat, the couple keeps a vegan household. … [Polis'] shoes and belt are "cruelty free"—meaning no animals were involved, he says. The shoes—he pops one off casually to check the brand when asked—are a brand called "Bourgeois Bohème."

Reis is the first same-sex partner of a member of Congress to be recognized as "spouse" on his congressional ID card. His days are spent working on his vegan culinary skills and his new novel, which he hopes "will give readers the reason they've been missing to give animals the fair consideration they deserve …."

Now, PETA isn't suggesting that you should run out and start a tawdry affair, but make no mistake: We believe that slipping some Cheatin "chorizo" into the chili is always a good thing.

Written by Karin Bennett

PETA's reenactment of our "Fur Is Dead" public service announcement (PSA) stunned D.C. tourists last week. News crews from WRC-TV, Roll Call, and others caught all the action—giving new meaning to the term "beat reporting."

"Clubbed" on the head, stripped of her fur, and left for "dead." Ring any bells?

This will probably be the only time I ever call a human in fur "hot." It was nearly 80°F outside on the day of our event.

Thanks to all who made our action a smashing success!

Written by Karin Bennett