Those Vegan Guys

Ursula Watson chats to Paul and Jason, a married couple from Manchester, who share down to earth videos on their growing YouTube channel 

Paul and Jason’s vegan journey began ten years ago. “It was a documentary called Vegucated,” remembers Paul. “We were already vegetarian at that point. We watched it at the beginning of 2014 and that was the day that broke me. We were vegan from that day.” 

Paul has a background in drama and has worked as a TV host. “I'm going to call us a power couple,” he says, “because we've done a lot in our hometown, Oldham. We've run a cycle club, a nonprofit arts organisation and a theatre company that toured around the country tackling homophobia. We've always been philanthropic. We've never expected monetary gain, we just enjoy doing good things together, and that bled into the YouTube. In 2017 we decided we’d found our feet, as vegans. We then wanted to share our knowledge with those who might be at the start of their journey.” And so Those Vegan Guys was born.  

Down to earth 

Paul and Jason often film their supermarket shopping trips to show the range of vegan products available. “That's partly the reason for the channel,” says Paul. “We were seeing a lot of questions in online vegan groups, such as ‘Where can I buy a vegan soup?’ And so many of the comments were suggesting people make their own, instead of answering the question.” 

Jason agrees, “We know it comes from a good place, but it isn't always particularly helpful for new vegans. They just want a simple answer. People might not want to make their own.” 

There is a link on the channel for a free e-book to help those starting their vegan journey. Paul says, “I just thought there should be more free stuff out there. It's not done professionally, but it's absolutely cram-packed full of information and recipes that are fairly easy for people to use.” 

A standout feature of the channel is the weekly live streams which are attended by a regular and faithful community. Paul says, “We have had so many messages on Instagram, emails and Facebook saying ‘I found your channel and I’m still vegan’. I think that's partly down to our down to earth approach. People feel they can connect with us.” 

During lockdown, Jason and Paul live-streamed their Christmas day lunch and have continued to do so every year since. “I'm really proud of the fact that we talk about mental health and wellbeing,” says Jason. “I think when you go vegan and you open your eyes to all of that, it can have a significant impact. The world can be a hard place sometimes, so it's nice for people to be able to come and watch, get involved with the live stream and chat online to others who are watching. It’s a bit of escapism for an hour and a half, and viewers can connect with people from all over the world – that's the lovely part.” 

Paul agrees. “We have dozens of people join us on every live stream who just really enjoy each other's company, they're not paying attention to us at all. That's gorgeous, because they are there forming friendships with each other.” 

Those Vegan Queens 

Paul is one half of a drag act, The Vegan Queens, with his friend Stuart Crowther. Together they have performed at many Pride events over the years. “We introduce ourselves, and we explain why we are the Vegan Queens. We point out that every bit of make-up on our faces, and everything we're wearing, is completely 100% vegan, and you can do it too. Then we sing cabaret!” 

Jason adds, “I think it's really important to have more links between veganism and LGBTQIA because people who are LGBTQIA have invariably either been through personal oppression or have witnessed oppression. We are able to ask people to make the link. If you feel oppressed, imagine how the animals feel.” 

The Vegan Queens have filmed a poignant video with vegan charity Gen V on the link between speciesism and homophobia. Last year they were invited by the charity to join their high-profile campaign asking Rishi Sunak to go vegan for a month. “A campaign like that is very much about using that platform and messaging. It's about all of that traffic around London, all seeing those placards, meeting the fabulous Vegan Queens in Parliament Square, and it's being able to drive that message to hundreds and hundreds of people if not thousands. Sometimes if you've got a really serious and important message that you want to deliver, it’s often better received with a bit of humour. And that's something that the Vegan Queens are brilliant at.” 

This year they have been promoting Viva’s 50 by 25 campaign, asking restaurants to become 50% vegan by 2025. Paul says, “The campaigns have all been really fun, which is a great type of activism.” 

Future Plans 

In 2023 the Vegan Queens performed at Vegan Campout. “What became very apparent is there is a massive LGBTQIA community at Vegan Campout,” says Jason, who made a solo appearance onstage to perform his song Choices which raises money for the Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Warwickshire. Jason and Paul were a crowd favourite and are back again this year to host two nights of cabaret and another solo performance by Jason. 

In the meantime, Paul has another project. “I've signed a deal to publish my children's book, Penny the Pigeon Queen.” The book was written after seeing children often run at or stalk the birds. “Pigeons are often the first wild animals that we come into contact with, and if we allow children to dominate and oppress and frighten them, we're already saying that it's OK to do that to animals.”  

Jason adds, “It's the first opportunity for a parent to teach compassion for animals to a child. I’m proper proud of Paul, and I'm really proud of Helen Woods Horley who did the artwork. The story in itself is beautiful, and it goes right back to philanthropy, putting good out there into the world consciously and subconsciously.” 

Visit youtube.com/thoseveganguys to find Jason and Paul’s videos. 

This article was first published in our membership magazine The Vegan, Issue 3 2024.