Franklin Man is Finalist in PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50 Contest

Fans Can Help PETA Pick a Winner by Voting for Their Favorites on PETA Prime's Website

For Immediate Release:
October 4, 2011

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382 

Franklin, N.H. -- What do Prince, Sir Paul McCartney, and Ellen DeGeneres have in common? Besides their enduring star power, they're all sexy vegetarians who just happen to be over 50. Their sizzling example is what inspired PETA to expand its popular series of Sexiest Vegetarian contests to include the over-50 set. After receiving hundreds of entries from across the U.S. for its 2011 Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50 contest, PETA has narrowed the field down to six men and six women—and 51-year-old Franklin, N.H., resident Barry Taylor is among the finalists. The contest is sponsored by PETA Prime—a resource for baby boomers on how to live a healthy, humane, and rewarding life.

"Unlike many of their peers who are on medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and impotence, older vegetarians tend to be slim and healthy—and that makes them sexier too," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "One look at our radiant finalists and it's clear that their vegetarian diets have already made all of them winners."

A veterinarian, marathon runner, weight lifter, and former boxer, Taylor went vegetarian—and later vegan—34 years ago. Although he touts the health and environmental benefits of a meatless diet, it was the intrinsic value of animals' lives that motivated him to stop eating them. In fact, his refusal to participate in a university animal laboratory almost cost him his degree. Taylor operates a low-cost spay-and-neuter program as part of his clinic and says that he won't work with clients who refuse to have their animals spayed and neutered.

Taylor's photo and bio—along with profiles of the other vegetarian vixens and herbivorous hunks who were selected as finalists—are available at PETAPrime.org. Voting to help PETA determine the winners will end October 17 at 12 noon ET. Two winners (one female and one male) will be announced on October 24. Winners will be decided based on four factors: the finalists' total number of votes, their enthusiasm in promoting their entry, their potential to reach a large audience, and PETA's assessment of their physical attractiveness. Each winner will receive a $125 gift certificate toward a purchase from PETA's catalog merchandise as well as a copy of Michael Feinstein's American Songbook DVD package.

For more information and to vote to help PETA choose the winners of the contest, please visit PETAPrime.org.