Celebrity Endorsements

This year, actress Daniela Sea of the hit show “The L Word” is joining Farm Sanctuary as the special guest at our 2009 California Celebration FOR the Turkeys. A committed animal advocate and Farm Sanctuary supporter, Daniela is gearing up for this special benefit by raising awareness about our lifesaving Adopt-A-Turkey Project and spreading compassion for turkeys far and wide! Learn more about Daniela’s advocacy and how she’ll be spending her holiday below.    

Q&A with Daniela Sea

Farm Sanctuary: How did you become involved with Farm Sanctuary?

Daniela: I’ve been working with Farm Sanctuary for the past two years. They are one of my favorite organizations. They’ve done so much good for animals, humans and the planet in the 20 plus years they’ve been at it. Working with them gives me a chance to be a part of changing things that I strongly believe need to be changed, in a very practical way. They do amazing work that goes with my beliefs about animals, sustainability and kindness. Animals feel things and deserve to live in dignity and be free from abuse and suffering. Factory farming is the biggest cause of greenhouse gasses. I like to breathe, I love animals, and I want our species to live for a long time.

Farm Sanctuary: Why do you think the Adopt-A-Turkey Project is important?

Daniela: If people knew how personable and fun to hang out with turkeys are and if they knew the horrors that turkeys on factory farms go through for their entire lives, I think fewer people would want to take part in supporting factory farming. Honoring turkeys who have been abused by the system, as they embark on their new life on the sanctuary, is a great thing to do. The Adopt-A-Turkey Project is becoming a new kind of Thanksgiving tradition for people who care about the earth and animals. This gives people a chance to recognize turkeys as living beings, and friends instead of viewing them as a product to eat. Turkeys can still be a symbol of Thanksgiving, but in a different way.

Farm Sanctuary: Are you sponsoring a turkey? If so, whom?

Daniela: I’m sponsoring Olive. And a few others who I’ll choose with my family this week.

Farm Sanctuary: We’re looking forward to your presentation at the California Celebration FOR the Turkeys. What part of the Celebration are you most anticipating?

Daniela: Firstly, I’m excited about seeing my friends again, human and non human. It’s gonna be a really fun party! Celebrating with the turkeys is top on my list. It’s great to be able to take part in Thanksgiving in a way that is all about being thankful and honoring life. I can’t wait to see them eating some of their favorite foods from a banquet laid out for them. I just found out that one of my favorite musicians is performing, Jonathan Richman, which is exciting. And I’m looking forward to hanging out with Gene Baur and everyone from Farm Sanctuary, my heroes! I’m mostly looking forward to being with likeminded and compassionate people and having a great time with people and our feathered, beaked, furred and hoofed friends. I wouldn’t miss it.

Farm Sanctuary: Do you have any favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

Daniela: However hypocritical Thanksgiving may seem to be, given the history of bloodshed and colonization that promptly followed that first Thanksgiving long ago, I have come to like Thanksgiving. I love cooking and being with my family. My mom makes a delicious nut loaf, and I make a pretty good tofu pumpkin pie that my best friend Miriam invented. Over the years, my grandma has grown used to me making the vegan version of Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t lecture anyone about factory farming over a holiday meal, but my eating the way I do is always cause for someone to start a conversation about why. I’m usually direct and brief about it, and the result has been that now the meat eaters in my family usually buy meat that's been raised outside and has been allowed to live some kind of life outside of a cage. Every step counts, I think.

Farm Sanctuary: Any favorite Thanksgiving foods?

Daniela: Tofu pumpkin pie, nut loaf and my mom’s whole grain stuffing. I’ve also been known to eat Tofurkey on occasion …

Farm Sanctuary: Besides taking part in our festivities, how will you be celebrating the holiday this year?

Daniela: I’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving this year with my family. My grandparents are 90 and 91 and some of my favorite people in the world. I’ll definitely be cooking. My family has grown to love my meat- and dairy- free dishes, sometimes even more than their traditional fare. Because vegan food tastes delicious!