Dr. McDougall's website forum is a good place to look for other vegans, although, of course, they will be following his program (which is whole-food, plant-based, starch-centric, no oil). I have met many vegans through there.
I became vegan on my 28th birthday, as a gift to myself and to animals. The McDougall website has so much great information about health and nutrition that it convinced me it was the path for me. I devoured his website over about 2 months before deciding to quit animals and animal products on my birthday. I am always recommending it to others in search of better health (that and the Forks Over Knives documentary). I was also very happy to not "need" to harm animals for my own survival or protein requirements. Having read numerous plant-based nutrition books, I feel I know more about healthy eating than most.
Over the years I have slipped into vegetarianism, but I am back on the McDougall program because I know the results I get from it - lower weight, lower cholesterol, reversal and prevention of heart disease, and also not being part of the dairy/egg industry, so not hurting animals makes me happy too. Also, I enjoy it and it's very cheap eating. Animal products are too rich.
Some of the authors, doctors, and regular folk I follow:
Dr. Esselstyn (Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease) and his son's Engine 2 Diet
Jeff Novick, nutritionist
Dr. McDougall (Starchivore, many more)
The Campbells (The China Study, Forks Over Knives)
Anti-Cancer (written by doctor, forget his name)
Ruth Heidrich (Race for Life, Senior Fitness)
Potato Strong guy (
www.potatostrong.com)
Plant-Fueled Trucker (on Facebook)
I always wish more people knew of this life-saving information.