GoLeft Star Activist Interview: Danielle Bays

GoLeft’s Star-Activist Interviews
GoLeft tracks where pop culture and activism meet (who doesn’t enjoy the escapism of Hollywood and the great shoes?), but the real celebrities of our world are the progressives working every day to fight injustice, improve everyone’s quality of life, and build community. So here’s our version of the celebrity profile: GoLeft’s Star-Activist Interviews, which helps us get to know some amazing people doing fascinating (and important) work.

Interview with Danielle Bays

Danielle Bays is the Advocacy and Outreach Manager of the animal rights group, Farm Sanctuary. Our GoLeft interview with Danielle revealed a great commitment to building community, balancing one’s activism and personal life and a love of cooking shows. To find out more about the work Danielle is working on, check out http://www.farmsanctuary.org. You can also reach Danielle at .

GL: How do you explain your work to people?
Danielle: My primary work at Farm Sanctuary is working to find ways to engage and support new and current activists.

GL: When did you know you wanted to be an organizer?
Danielle: I’ve always loved animals and knew I wanted to do something. I’ve worked on national campaigns, state level campaigns, advocacy and lobbying. And everything I’ve learned made me want to be able to share this work with other people.

GL: What is great about being an organizer?
Danielle: There are just so many great people out there. As an organizer, I get to build community. And it is one of those things that is lost in society and it is great to be able to build that for activists. It’s a really great feeling.

GL: What is the best line you’ve ever used to engage someone in your campaign?

Danielle: We’re lucky at Farm Sanctuary because we advocate for animals and they kind of speak for themselves. They are a good opening line and visual. One slogan that we are using now that I get a really good reaction to is “A compassionate world begins with you”. I use that line in all different contexts.

GL: What do you love about pop culture?
Danielle: Pop culture is a good escape and at times it can be really telling and insightful. I enjoy when I can watch and be entertained and educated at the same time.

GL: When was the last time you used a pop cultural reference in your work?

Danielle: I love watching Top Chef, it’s a really compelling show that draws you in. But they use a lot of animals in the show and they also use foie gras, which we have a campaign against here at Farm Sanctuary. This is one area where our issue is tied into pop culture. Top Chef’s new season will take place in Chicago, which recently issued a ban on foie gras. Farm Sanctuary contacted the show about ending their use but have not heard back yet.

GL:  Which celebrity would you love to come out on your issue and why?

Danielle: This is a really hard question for me. Here at Farm Sanctuary we have some really good supporters. I am reluctant to name any “wish celebrity” because for us when we have someone come out who does not really support the cause, who comes out because someone asks them to and they haven’t really committed to make a change in their lives, it ends up hurting us more. I’m thinking of the time some models came out against fur and then ended up wearing fur. That said, I would love to see the contestants on Top Chef refuse to cook meat and push for all vegan meals.

GL: What music lyrics do you live by?

Danielle: “Meat is Murder” by the Smiths. Listening to that song coincided with my going vegetarian back while I was in high
school. I was a big Smith’s fan, but didn’t have a lot of exposure to
vegetarians or people who took a stance, changed their lifestyle,
because of concern for animals, or really for any belief. It has
obviously stuck with me.

GL: How do you balance your passion for your activism with your passion for your partner?

Danielle: That’s easy for me now because I’m single. I do work from home now so I can have a better relationship with my companion animals.

GL: Does your family support the work that you do and is that important to you?

Danielle: I do. They are very supportive even without having a full grasp of what I do. I come from a family of teachers not activists. They have been supportive of my choices, working in non-profit and not making lots of money. I would not want to do this work if I were estranged from my family it would also be contrary to our organizing goals of building community.

GL:  Is there a relationship depicted in pop culture (fictional or real) that you admire or think is a healthy model? Why?

Danielle: I’m living in Boston right now and so I have to relate to crazed Red Sox fans. I went to see the movie “Fever Pitch” with Drew Barrymore. In that movie the guy Drew Barrymore’s character starts dating is a diehard baseball fan and would always have his relationships fail when baseball season began. I saw this movie and thought about the parallel to activism. What I loved seeing in the movie is how they balanced their obsessions/passions. The characters in the movie recognized that they could have their independent time while respecting each other’s obsession and quirks. I found this movie very relevant to us who lack boundaries to our work and personal lives.

GL: When solicitors come to your door do you answer or pretend not to be home?

Danielle: I usually answer because my dogs will bark and it’s hard to pretend not to be home. I do like to engage them in conversation and share thoughts whether or not I agree with them. I like to support and encourage activists

GL: What is your astrological sign and how does that affect your organizing?

Danielle: I’m a Sagittarius, which makes me a free spirit and pioneer attitudes moving in new ways.