Fans Petition SIMPSONS Writers for Lisa Simpson to Go Vegan

Lisa Simpson of THE SIMPSONS is already a vegetarian, but fans want writers to take her advocacy for animals one step further. A Care2 petition urging the show's writers to make Lisa Simpson vegan has gathered over 20,000 signatures. VIEW THE CARE2 PETITION HERE

Lisa Simpson went vegetarian in the fifth episode of the seventh season of the show, when she bonded with a lamb at a petting zoo. The episode featured Paul McCartney, whose condition for appearing on the show was that Lisa would remain vegetarian for the rest of the series.

Longtime fan Matthew Hanson says he started the Care2 petition because to him, veganism promotes global justice.

"I figured the most popular animated TV show in history already has a vegetarian, why not ask for her to be vegan?" Hanson told Care2. "I've read people testifying to the fact that Lisa was a major influence on them, or that she was a role model who helped them be the best person they could be when others around them were less supportive. THE SIMPSONS gets millions of viewers every episode, so it greatly influences culture. I think Lisa should continue to be a positive role model, just updated for 2016."

The late Sam Simpson, co-creator of The Simpsons, was vegan. David Mirkin, show runner during the "Lisa the Vegetarian" episode, is also a vegetarian.

Hanson says he went vegan after watching Gary Yourofksy's "Greatest Speech You Will Ever Hear."

"When I realised that what we do to animals for food is unnecessary, that you can be completely healthy without killing animals, I could not justify their servitude for my convenience," he says. "It all stems from there for me: it's not fair to kill an ANIMAL that wants to live just because I like their taste, or for the convenience, or to please others around me for cultural traditions."

Hanson is hopeful that the show's writers will respond.

"I've been watching THE SIMPSONS for decades now, and if they respond to my Care2 petition I will be very excited."

Care2 (www.Care2.com) is a community of 34 million standing together for good. People are making world-changing impact with Care2, starting petitions and supporting each other's campaigns to help individuals, animals and the environment. A pioneer of online advocacy since 1998, Care2 is a B Corporation, or social enterprise, using the power of business as a force for good.

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