She may be the Mistress of the Dark, but when it comes to animal liberation, Cassandra Peterson (aka âElviraâ) helps others see the âlite.â Petersonâs portrayal of the âhorror hostessâ is legendary, as is her work for animal rights: Sheâs spent decades starring in PETA campaigns, protesting, strutting down fur-free runways, and otherwise getting loud for animals. And now, with her new bookâYours Cruelly, Elvira, which debuted at number four on The New York Times bestseller listâPeterson has revealed how her Elvira persona put her on PETAâs map and how her animal activism shaped the rest of her life.
The Power of a License Plate
In chapter 28 (âLite a Flameâ), Peterson reminisces about changing the license plate of her station wagon to read âBAN FUR.â With one simple action, she drove home the message that tearing the skin off rabbits, foxes, or other animalsâ backs is never OK.
Gas up your own car decor for animal rights!
âFur Is a Dragâ
Drag queens were active with PETA long before RuPaulâs Drag Race hit the airwavesâand even before the art of drag had broken out of queer spaces and entered the mainstream. In clubs around the world, Elvira and other legends joined PETA for âFur Is a Dragâ parody runway shows, in which they wore trashed fur coats covered with blood-red paint.
âI Love Elephants!â
Peterson recalls that she was offered a spot on Circus of the Stars, a television show in which celebrities performed circus acts, sometimes while forcing other animals to perform, too. Although Petersonâs initial reaction was, âWowâfun! I love elephants!â once she discovered that circus trainers beat elephants and other animals with bullhooks and shock them with electric prods, she declined. Her refusal to partake in such exploitation ruled headlines and called attention to the cruelty that animals endure in circusesâabuse that PETA, Peterson, and countless others have helped to curb drastically in the years since, including by taking down former industry giant Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Are you inspired by Petersonâs activism? Consider supporting our campaigns and helping to deliver a message of total animal liberation by joining the PETA Action Team:
Help AnimalsâJoin PETAâs Action Team
Once youâve signed up, check out PETAâs list of other powerful animal rights readsâthese books will also get you hyped about getting loud for animals, and you wonât be able to put them down:
Animal Rights Books for the Compassionate Bookworm
Source: Peta.org