In the midst of the U.S. presidential race and the on-going sage in Iraq, the New York Times devotes some major ink to vegan strippers.

Johnny Diablo of Portland, Ore., decided to open a business to combine vegans and strippers at his Casa Diablo Gentlemen’s Club, where soy protein replaces beef in the tacos and chimichangas and the dancers wear pleather, not leather.

However, since the strip club opened last month, Portland’s young feminists have been complaining  “all over the Internet,” according to the aptly named Diablo. “One of them came in here once. I could tell she had an attitude right when she came in. She was all hostile.”

Mr. Diablo, who hasn’t worn or eaten animal products in 24 years and is worried about cruelty to animals says he isn’t concerned with the “feminazis,” adding, “My sole purpose in this universe is to save every possible creature from pain and suffering."

The Times says that in Los Angeles, some frown at the scantily clad Vegan Vixens — a kind of animal-loving Pussycat Dolls — who perform songs like “Real Men Don’t Hunt” at fund-raisers for animal welfare groups.

And many vegans who want to publicize cruelty within the fur industry are nonetheless dismayed by the new “Ink, Not Mink” advertising campaign from peta2, the youth arm of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It features members of the Internet-based pinup group the Suicide Girls, sporting little more than tattoos and body piercings.

Many vegans have long criticized PETA for using naked celebrities in its advertising campaigns and for staging stunts like naked protests.

As an aside, the Times says that Mr. Diablo put the club up for sale last week, although not because of the criticism. He may have underestimated the appeal of stripping to vegans, or of vegan cuisine to striptease fans; an earlier vegan restaurant he ran was poorly received.

The aside is the most important feature of this story.