Photography by M. Sharkey

As senior vice president of PETA, Mathews has reveled in infuriating his foes while creating some of the organization's most eye-catching campaigns. He continued this year with his efforts to talk Atlanta Pride organizers into moving their annual party out of an aquarium -- and he recently called out Lady Gaga for claiming some fur she wore counts as art.

Photographed at Sun Studios in New York City on September 13, 2012