Gary Yourofsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary Yourofsky
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Yourofsky in 2013
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| Born | August 19, 1970 |
| Occupation | Lecturer, activist |
| Known for | Speeches promoting animals rights |
Gary Yourofsky (born August 19, 1970) is an American animal rights activist and speaker. He has greatly influenced many people to choose a vegan lifestyle through his talks.
Yourofsky worked with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) from 2002 to 2005. During this time, he gave many public talks about veganism. In 2010, a YouTube video of his speech at the Georgia Institute of Technology became very popular. This video was watched millions of times and translated into many languages. Yourofsky is known for his strong views on animal rights. He faced legal issues several times between 1997 and 2001. In 1999, he spent 77 days in a Canadian prison after an event at a fur farm in 1997. He is not allowed to enter Canada or the United Kingdom.
On March 30, 2017, Yourofsky announced on Facebook that he was stepping back from his active activist work. He said he would still help students and people starting their vegan journey. However, on May 19, 2025, Yourofsky shared on his YouTube channel that he would be joining Anonymous for the Voiceless in Cologne, Germany. He planned to be part of an activism workshop there. Since then, Yourofsky has appeared on several podcasts, saying he is returning to activism after a break.
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About Gary Yourofsky
Yourofsky was born into a Jewish family in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He grew up in Oak Park. He has a large tattoo on his right arm that shows him wearing a mask and holding a rabbit.
In a 2013 interview, Yourofsky said he was a "troublemaker" in high school. He chose not to take any math classes, even though they were required. Despite this, he still graduated. He earned a degree in journalism from Oakland University. He also has a degree in radio broadcasting from Specs Howard School of Media Arts.
His Work for Animal Rights
Early Activism: 1996–2001
In 1996, Yourofsky started an organization called Animals Deserve Absolute Protection Today and Tomorrow (ADAPTT). This group supports veganism and is against any use of animals. By 2001, ADAPTT had about 2,200 members.
On March 30, 1997, Yourofsky and four other members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) went to a fur farm in Blenheim, Ontario, Canada. They released 1,542 minks. This event caused a lot of damage to the farm. Yourofsky was arrested and later spent 77 days in a Canadian prison in 1999. He said this experience made him feel like "an animal in the zoo." This helped him understand what animals go through.
In 2000, Yourofsky received money from PETA to create a TV commercial. This commercial was against circuses that use animals. It was shown 69 times on a local TV channel.
Working with PETA: 2002–2005
In early 2002, Yourofsky left his role as president of ADAPTT because of money problems. Soon after, Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, offered him a job. On May 20, 2002, Yourofsky became PETA's official national speaker.
In 2003, one of Yourofsky's talks at East Tennessee State University was canceled. This happened after an argument about pamphlets supporting animal testing. Yourofsky moved a cart, causing the pamphlets to fall. The talk was then called off.
After PETA: 2005–Present
On April 2, 2007, Yourofsky was invited to speak at the University of Southern Indiana. His talk was about "Ethical Veganism." The university initially canceled his talk. This was because they thought some of his ideas went against their rules about speakers. However, after people spoke up for free speech, the rules were changed. Yourofsky was then able to give his talk.
A part of Yourofsky's well-known speech on veganism was included in the 2012 movie, The Superior Human? This film is against speciesism, which is the idea that humans are more important than other animals.
Yourofsky visited Israel in September 2012. He was interviewed by Israeli television Channel 2. His planned talks in public schools were canceled by the Israeli Ministry of Education. Nobel Prize laureate J.M. Coetzee commented on this. He said that children are sensitive and can be upset by cruelty. He also suggested that people should be shocked by how animals are treated in the food industry. He felt Yourofsky might be helping people understand these issues.
Challenges and Criticisms
Yourofsky has faced criticism for some of his strong statements. He has been banned from entering Canada and Britain because of his activism.
See also
In Spanish: Gary Yourofsky para niños
- James Aspey
- Joey Carbstrong
- List of vegans
- List of animal rights activists
