What once simply began as a diet or food trend has now actually transformed into a legally-held belief, and one just can’t help wonder how and why.
Veganism, simply put, is a practice, a lifestyle, or just a way of food that involves complete abstinence of animals and all animal-based products, be it for health purposes or to show support to put an end to animal cruelty.
However, ever since its initiation, veganism has become a legal belief which now goes by the term ‘ethical veganism’. This philosophical belief is greatly protected by the law and strongly prevents discrimination against vegans.
How Did Veganism Turn Into a Philosophical, Legal Belief?
The major turning point for vegans was when an employment tribunal ruled and propagated that ethical veganism is protected by the law because it is a philosophical belief, and it needs to shield one from discrimination and uncalled-for judgments.
A vegan named ‘Jordi Casamitjana’ was sacked by the League Against Cruel Sports mainly because he raised his concerns about how the pension fund of this animal welfare charity was being funded in numerous companies that promoted animal testing. He claimed that the sacking was done on unfair grounds, and while that claim wasn’t settled by the tribunal’s ruling, it did conduct a substantive hearing. According to the outcome of the hearing, ethical veganism meets all the requirements that are needed for it to be considered a philosophical belief.
Eventually, ethical veganism went on to become highly protected under the ‘Equality Act 2010’.
