Dan Mathews

Dan Mathews is the Senior Vice President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He is known for heading PETA's most controversial and attention-getting campaigns, including the "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" ads, as well as campaigns involving celebrities such as Morrissey, Pamela Anderson, Pink, and Paul McCartney. 
In 2000, he was named by gay lifestyle magazine Genre as one of the most influential people of the new century. When asked by the magazine who he considered an influential gay, he said, spree killer "Andrew Cunanan, because he got Gianni Versace to stop using fur." In 2007, Mathews was ranked 37th in Out magazine's "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America".Oxfield, Jesse, Idov, Michael (March 4, 2007), ‘Out’ Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2, New York Magazine. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
Mathews has written a memoir, Committed: A Rabble-Rouser's Memoir, which he characterised as "an adventure story. It's like 007 wearing freaky outfits".Wilson, Craig (April 11, 2007), Crusader's 'Committed' is a monument to PETA power, USA Today. Retrieved February 13, 2009. Committed was published in the USA by Atria books in 2007 and in the UK by Duckworth Overlook in 2009. The book tells the story of how he became a public person, the various exploits he's enjoyed for PETA, and different campaigns he has done.
In May 2009 he commented on the actions of the Governor General of Canada who, in participating in an Inuit tradition, consumed raw seal heart. He is quoted as saying to the Toronto Star "It amazes us that a Canadian official would indulge in such bloodlust. It sounds like she's trying to give Canadians an even more Neanderthal image around the world than they already have."Mitch Potter. "Row erupts over Governor General's seal taste" The Toronto Star May 26, 2009 Although Mathews admits to being attracted by extremes, he states that he and PETA only engage in legal activities, but they do not condemn the actions of animal rights extremists.Emma Brockes. "Dan Mathews of Peta: 'I've always been drawn to extremes'" The Guardian May 28, 2009
==Notes==
==References==
*Mathews, Dan, 'Committed: A Rabble-Rouser's Memoir, Atria Books, 2007. ISBN 0-7432-9187-5
*Mathews, Dan, 'Committed: A Rabble-Rouser's Memoir', Duckworth Overlook, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7156-3846-0
==External links==
*Committed: A Rabble-Rouser's Memoirs from Duckworth Overlook site
*Dan Mathews in conversation with Richard Fidler (audio available)
Category:1964 births
Category:American activists
Category:American vegans
Mathews,Dan
Category:American people of Irish descent
Category:LGBT people from the United States
Category:Living people
Category:People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Category:Animal rights advocates
de:Dan Mathews
Category:1964 births
Category:American activists
Category:American vegans
Mathews,Dan
Category:American people of Irish descent
Category:LGBT people from the United States
Category:Living people
Category:People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Category:Animal rights advocates