Welcome to our June issue. It’s my favourite time of year, when hot days and warm evenings, beach trips and long walks fill our time. And with all the joy that summer brings, it’s the perfect time to gather your friends and advocate in the best way possible — with fantastic food. It was this time last year that I hosted a BBQ at my own house, and served my omni friends an entirely vegan menu (including my first ever bash at vegan mac’n’cheese). It was a great success and triggered some of my friends into making more animal and planet-friendly decisions when doing their food shops. We’ve put together everything you need to host your own BBQ bonanza (p40) — from food, drinks and sauces to ice cream and hosting tips — so your summer gathering will be both delicious and memorable. Not all experiences with non-vegans are so positive. The topic of ‘vegaphobia’, or hatred towards vegans, has been floating around Vegan Life HQ. As an office full of vegans, most of us have experienced some kind of backlash or negativity — I myself have been shouted at in public, for merely stating my vegan point of view. We asked you about your own experiences of this phenomenon (p68) and your answers were illuminating — one woman was even turned down a job because of her veganism. It seems that despite so much progress, some people still take task with us choosing a peaceful way of life. Jessie Keogh covers how to deal with these testing situations on p120. Have a great month, Phillipa Smith Editor