3.27.2008 10:00 AM

Animal-Loving Strippers

And We're Not Talking About the Clientele. These Ladies Are Vegan.

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Photo: George Mayer / Istock

By Annie Bell Muzaurieta

The Casa Diablo Gentlemen's Club in Portland, Oregon is vegan. That means the Mexican food is filled with soy protein and the dancers wear pleather, according to an article in the New York Times.

The owner, Johnny Diablo, has been a vegan for years, and says in the article, "My sole purpose in this universe is to save every possible creature from pain and suffering." Oh really? What about those stripper heels?

The article asks if using sex appeal to publicize veganism is really a step in the right direction.

Some referenced in the article suggested that using sexuality was the only way to appeal to certain converts-in-waiting. Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, said, "Sexuality is what society will turn its head for more than anything else." Sky Valencia, the founder of the Vegan Vixens, a vegan dance troupe, said in the article that her group targets “the people who buy Playboy and Maxim and watch talk shows like Jerry Springer. Those are the people we want to educate because they don’t know anything about the environment or animal rights issues or health.”

In the article, Diablo says he's gotten complaints from feminists about his enterprise. He also admits business hasn't been as successful as he'd like, and last week he put the club up for sale. Perhaps he misjudged the tastes of his fellow vegans.

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