Editing Brian May (section)

==Personal life==
From 1976 to 1988, May was married to Christine Mullen.<ref name=whoswho/> They had three children.<ref name=whoswho>{{Who's Who |title=May, Dr Brian Harold |id=U247368 |year=2022 |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U247368}}</ref> They separated in 1988. May met actress [[Anita Dobson]] in 1986. She inspired him to write the 1989 hit "I Want It All". They married on 18 November 2000.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120829083922/http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/2011/dancers/celebrity/anita_dobson.shtml Anita Dobson]. BBC</ref>

He has said in interviews that he had depression in the late 1980s and early 1990s, to the point of contemplating suicide,<ref>{{cite web| last =May| first =Brian|url =http://www.brianmay.com/brian/briannews/briannewsdec05.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20060504184823/http://www.brianmay.com/brian/briannews/briannewsdec05.html|url-status=dead|archive-date =4 May 2006| title= News December&nbsp;2005 | access-date=14 August 2007}}</ref> for reasons having to do with his troubled first marriage, his perceived failure as a husband and father, and the deaths of Mercury and his father Harold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brianmay.com/brian/magsandpress/okjun98/okjun98.html |title=The Legendary Rock Star at home in Surrey, 19 June 1998 |work=Brianmay.com |date=19 June 1998 |access-date=24 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829005931/http://www.brianmay.com/brian/magsandpress/okjun98/okjun98.html |archive-date=29 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]]'' [[Sunday Times Rich List|Rich List]] of 2019, May is worth £160&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48204955|title=Ed Sheeran tops Adele as Stormzy joins Sunday Times Rich List|work=BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=9 May 2019|date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611175234/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48204955|archive-date=11 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He has homes in London and [[Windlesham]], Surrey.<ref>{{cite news | first = Rachel | last = Cooke | date = 5 September 2010 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/05/brian-may-interview-blogging | title = Brian May: The Interview | newspaper =[[The Guardian]] | location = London | access-date = 8 October 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131110055153/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/05/brian-may-interview-blogging | archive-date = 10 November 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref> May's father Harold was a long-time heavy cigarette smoker.<ref name=Grdn2014/> As a result, May dislikes smoking,<ref>{{cite web|last=May |first=Brian |url=http://www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbfeb06.html#07 |title=Smoking: We Do Not Have to Wait!! |work=Brian's Soapbox 6 Feb |date=6 February 2006 |access-date=27 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408214545/http://www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbfeb06.html |archive-date=8 April 2008 }}</ref> to the point where he was already prohibiting smoking indoors at his concerts before many countries imposed [[List of smoking bans|smoking ban]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Queen wants Moscow sports complex to become non-smoking area|work=Queen News June 2008|agency=Regnum News Agency|url=http://www.brianmay.com/queen/queennews/queennewsjun08b.html#19|date=19 June 2008|access-date=27 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727004014/http://www.brianmay.com/queen/queennews/queennewsjun08b.html#19|archive-date=27 July 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

A vegan since taking part in the 2020 [[Veganuary]] challenge,<ref>{{cite web|date=2 February 2020|title=Brian May To Stay Plant-Based After 'Loving' Veganuary|url=https://www.plantbasednews.org/news/brian-may-to-stay-plant-based-after-loving-veganuary|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204201054/https://www.plantbasednews.org/news/brian-may-to-stay-plant-based-after-loving-veganuary|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020|website=plantbasednews.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=15 April 2020|title=Brian May backs widespread veganism after coronavirus crisis: "Eating animals has brought us to our knees"|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/brian-may-backs-widespread-veganism-after-coronavirus-eating-animals-has-brought-us-to-our-knees-2646320|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415093246/https://www.nme.com/news/music/brian-may-backs-widespread-veganism-after-coronavirus-eating-animals-has-brought-us-to-our-knees-2646320|archive-date=15 April 2020|website=NME}}</ref> May has stated that meat eating is responsible for the [[COVID-19]] pandemic despite there being no evidence of such.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brian May blames meat-eating for rise of coronavirus|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/15/brian-may-blames-meat-eating-for-rise-of-coronavirus|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 April 2020}}</ref> May describes himself as "not belonging to an organized religion, but feels there is a god of some kind which we know very little about".<ref>{{cite web|last1=RT|title=Brian May to RT: I still feel Freddie's around|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBm1Qfpa_nY|via=YouTube|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724025940/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBm1Qfpa_nY|archive-date=24 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

May is a long-term champion of woodland as a haven and "corridor" for wildlife—both in Surrey, where he has a house,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/queen-guitarist-brian-blasts-greed-9845399|title=Brian May: 'Case for development is weak and motivated by money'|last=Neal|first=Charlotte|date=13 August 2015|work=[[GetSurrey]]|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175017/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/queen-guitarist-brian-blasts-greed-9845399|archive-date=8 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and elsewhere. In 2012, he bought land threatened by building development at [[Bere Regis]], Dorset, and, in 2013 and with the enthusiastic support of local villagers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/NEWS/10706506.Queen___s_Brian_May_plants_first_tree_in_Dorset_woodland/|title=Queen's Brian May plants first tree in Dorset woodland|website=[[Bournemouth Echo]]|date=30 September 2013 |language=en|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175021/http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/NEWS/10706506.Queen___s_Brian_May_plants_first_tree_in_Dorset_woodland/|archive-date=8 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> initiated a project to create an area of woodland, now called May's Wood (or "the Brian May Wood").<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21427374|title=Brian May unveils woodland vision|date=12 February 2013|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=8 January 2018|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023214032/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21427374|archive-date=23 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The wood consists of {{convert|157|acres|ha}}, formerly under the plough, planted by May's team of co-workers with 100,000 trees. May's Wood is said to be flourishing.<ref>{{Citation|last=Linda Lamon|title=Brian May's Wood First Anniversary, Bere Regis, Dorset|date=18 September 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy8j-Lq7Fys |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/fy8j-Lq7Fys| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=8 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Linda Lamon|title=May's Wood third anniversary of inaugural tree planting.|date=28 September 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHNIWNBYxV0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/RHNIWNBYxV0| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=8 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2013, a new species of the genus ''[[Heteragrion]]'' (Odonata: Zygoptera) from Brazil was named ''Heteragrion brianmayi''—one of four ''Heteragrion'' flatwing [[Damselfly|damselflies]] named after the bandmates, paying tribute to the 40th anniversary of Queen's founding.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/z03685p080f.pdf|title = Diagnoses and discussion of the group 1 and 2 Brazilian species of Heteragrion, with descriptions of four new species (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae). Zootaxa 3685 (1): 001–080.|date = 9 July 2013|access-date = 26 September 2015|website = Zootaxa|publisher = Magnolia Press – Auckland, New Zealand|last = Lencioni|first = F.A.A.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081459/http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/z03685p080f.pdf|archive-date = 4 March 2016|url-status = live}}</ref>

May experienced a small heart attack in May 2020. It required the insertion of three [[stent]]s into three blocked arteries. May said he had been "very near death".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/25/brian-may-queen-near-death-heart-attack-gardening |title=Brian May was 'near death' after suffering heart attack while gardening |first=Laura |last=Snapes |date=25 May 2020 |access-date=25 May 2020 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> In September 2024, he revealed that he had suffered a minor stroke which rendered him temporarily without use of his left arm, though May noted he was still able to play guitar.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abdul |first=Geneva |date=4 September 2024 |title=Queen guitarist Brian May reveals he recently had minor stroke |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/sep/04/queen-guitarist-brian-may-reveals-he-recently-had-minor-stroke |access-date=4 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Activism===
[[File:Brian May filming for the BBC's 'The One Show'.jpg|thumb|right|May filming for the BBC's ''The One Show'' in 2011 for an anti–badger culling campaign.]]

Though a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] voter most of his life,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8730078.stm | work=[[BBC News]] | title=Brian May on saving the fox | date=9 June 2010 | access-date=9 June 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306040808/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8730078.stm | archive-date=6 March 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> he has stated that their policies on [[fox hunting]] and the [[Badger culling in the United Kingdom|culling of badgers]] meant he did not vote for them in the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 UK general election]]. 

In 2013, May joined French guitar player [[Jean-Pierre Danel]] for a charity Danel launched for the benefit of [[animal rights in France]]. The guitarists signed guitars and art photos together, and were joined by Hank Marvin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brianmay.com/brian/briannews/briannewsapr13a.html#07 |title=Brian News – April 2013 |publisher=Brianmay.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330162802/http://www.brianmay.com/brian/briannews/briannewsapr13a.html#07 |archive-date=30 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Brianmaywestminster.jpg|thumb|upright|left|May outside the [[Houses of Parliament]] in London during a June 2013 anti-badger cull demonstration]]

Prior to the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], it was reported that May was considering standing as an [[Independent politician|independent Member of Parliament]]. It was also revealed that May had started a "Common Decency" project "to re-establish common decency in our lives, work and Parliament". May said he wanted to "get rid of the current government" and wished to see a [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] containing "individuals voting according to their conscience".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/brian-may-could-stand-as-an-independent-mp-queen-guitarists-spokesperson-drops-tenuous-hints-about-political-intentions-10023508.html | title=Brian May 'could stand an Independent MP': Queen guitarist's spokesperson drops tenuous hints about political intentions | work=[[The Independent]] | first=Jenn | last=Selby | date=4 February 2015 | access-date=18 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722230820/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/brian-may-could-stand-as-an-independent-mp-queen-guitarists-spokesperson-drops-tenuous-hints-about-political-intentions-10023508.html | archive-date=22 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> May was one of several celebrities who endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]'s [[Caroline Lucas]] at the election.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/24/celebrities-sign-statement-support-caroline-lucas-not-green-party | title=Celebrities sign statement of support for Caroline Lucas – but not the Greens | work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | first=Jessica | last=Elgot | date=24 April 2015 | access-date=22 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003042244/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/24/celebrities-sign-statement-support-caroline-lucas-not-green-party | archive-date=3 October 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> He also endorsed a Conservative Party candidate, [[Henry Smith (British politician)|Henry Smith]], on the grounds of his animal welfare record.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Queen-legend-Brian-urges-Crawley-residents-vote/story-26243354-detail/story.html?r1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crawleynews.co.uk%2FQueen-legend-Brian-urges-Crawley-residents-vote%2Fstory-26243354-detail%2Fstory.html | title= Queen legend Brian May urges Crawley residents to vote Conservative at General Election | work= Crawley News | date= 27 March 2015 | access-date= 22 July 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150723035853/http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Queen-legend-Brian-urges-Crawley-residents-vote/story-26243354-detail/story.html?r1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crawleynews.co.uk%2FQueen-legend-Brian-urges-Crawley-residents-vote%2Fstory-26243354-detail%2Fstory.html | archive-date= 23 July 2015 | url-status= live }}</ref>

In July 2015, May criticised UK Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] for giving members of parliament a free vote on amending the ban on fox hunting in England and Wales. During a live television interview, he described the pro-hunting organisation the [[Countryside Alliance]] as "a bunch of lying bastards" for their support for a change to the law.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a-bunch-of-lying-bastards--brian-may-and-paul-mccartney-hit-out-at-david-camerons-cruel-and-unnecessary--bid-to-bring-back-fox-hunting-10380869.html | title='A bunch of lying b*****ds' – Brian May and Paul McCartney hit out at David Cameron's 'cruel and unnecessary' bid to bring back fox hunting | work=[[The Independent]] | first=Matt | last=Dathan | date=10 July 2015 | access-date=12 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712202052/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a-bunch-of-lying-bastards--brian-may-and-paul-mccartney-hit-out-at-david-camerons-cruel-and-unnecessary--bid-to-bring-back-fox-hunting-10380869.html | archive-date=12 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> The government postponed the vote following the intervention of the [[Scottish National Party]]'s Westminster MPs, who committed to vote to keep the ban as it existed. May told anti-hunt protesters in a rally outside Parliament that it was "a very, very important day for our democracy" but added "we have not yet won the war, there's no room for complacency".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/brian-may-hails-important-day-for-democracy-after-vote-on-foxhunting-ban-is-postponed-10388195.html | title=Brian May hails 'important day for democracy' after vote on foxhunting ban is postponed | work=[[The Independent]] | first=Emily | last=Beamen | date=14 July 2015 | access-date=18 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717034615/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/brian-may-hails-important-day-for-democracy-after-vote-on-foxhunting-ban-is-postponed-10388195.html | archive-date=17 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2017, May endorsed [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]]. May shared an article on Twitter by ''[[The Independent]]'' headlined "Jeremy Corbyn says Fox hunting is 'barbarity' and pledges to keep it banned"<ref name="independent">{{cite news|last=Oppenheim|first=Maya|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/News/uk/home-news/election-2017-celebrities-vote-party-ballots-comedians-actors-footballers-steve-coogan-danny-devito-a7779151.html|title=Election 2017: The surprising and not-so surprising ways celebrities will be casting their ballots today|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=8 June 2017|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624143521/http://www.independent.co.uk/News/uk/home-news/election-2017-celebrities-vote-party-ballots-comedians-actors-footballers-steve-coogan-danny-devito-a7779151.html|archive-date=24 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and captioned it: "Well, I guess that just about clinches it !! Anyone see any good reason not to prefer the evidently decent Corbyn over the weak and wobbly Mrs May? Bri".<ref>{{cite news |title=What celebrities including JK Rowling, Stephen Hawking and Brian May had to say about the general election |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/celebrities-including-jk-rowling-stephen-hawking-brian-may-had/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref>

In October 2018, May said, "I don't like all this separatist stuff and you know this sort of illusion that we can all stand on our own, to me the future lies in co-operation. I get up every day and put my head in my hands about [[Brexit]] – I think it's the stupidest thing we ever tried to do." He also said that Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] was "driven by vanity and thirst for power".<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/queen-gutarist-brian-may-says-brexit-is-stupid-1-5757026|title = Brian May: 'Brexit is the stupidest thing we ever tried to do'|work = [[The New European]]|first = Jonathon|last = Read|date = 30 October 2018|access-date = 18 December 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193400/https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/queen-gutarist-brian-may-says-brexit-is-stupid-1-5757026|archive-date = 18 December 2018|url-status = live}}</ref>

In the run-up to the [[2019 United Kingdom general election]] May criticised what he saw as the poor conduct of the media and declined to endorse either candidate, stating that he found it "impossible" to vote for either Jeremy Corbyn or [[Boris Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbnov19b.html |title=Bri's Soapbox |last=May |first=Brian |date=22 November 2019 |website=brianmay.com |access-date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225181438/https://brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbnov19b.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the election in which the Conservatives won a majority, May vowed to continue fighting for animal welfare but in an [[Instagram]] and blog post he urged his followers to congratulate Johnson and "wish Boris a decent chance to rebuild Britain" before praising reforms to animal welfare laws made by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] Environment Secretary [[Michael Gove]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbdec19b.html |title=Bri's Soapbox |last=May |first=Brian |date=26 December 2019 |website=brianmay.com |access-date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225224449/https://brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbdec19b.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's Brian May on Boris Johnson winning General Election 'give him benefit of doubt' |access-date=5 January 2020 |date=14 December 2019 |website=Daily Express |first=George |last=Simpson|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1217310/Queen-Brian-May-Boris-Johnson-general-election-2019-Freddie-Mercury-Michael-Gove }}</ref> In 2021 May criticised Johnson for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it inadequate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/brian-may-boris-johnson-covid-b1898230.html |title=Brian May attacks Boris Johnson over handling of Covid pandemic: 'At every point, he did too little, too late' |work=The Independent |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=23 August 2021 }}</ref>

In the lead up to the [[2019 Okinawan referendum]] on [[Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma#Henoko Bay plan|landfill work at Henoko Bay]] for the expansion of the base in Okinawa, Japan, May advocated voting in opposition to the landfill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190107/p2a/00m/0na/016000c|title=Queen guitarist May seeks signatures for petition against Okinawa base transfer work|first=Maki|last=Nakajima|work=[[Mainichi Shimbun]]|date=7 January 2019|access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref>

===Animal welfare===

In 2010, May formed an animal welfare organisation [[Save Me (animal welfare)|Save Me]] (named after the [[Save Me (Queen song)|May-written Queen song]]). It campaigns for the protection of wild animals with a particular emphasis on preventing hunting of foxes and the culling of badgers. May has commented that "to this day, nobody has been able to prove a mechanism for the transfer of [[Mycobacterium bovis|bTB]] from badger to cow" and has suggested that culling badgers has no benefit.<ref name="animal welfare">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/jul/12/badger-cull-wales-brian-may | location=London | work=[[The Guardian]] | title=Kill the cull, not the badgers | first=Brian | last=May | date=12 July 2010 | access-date=11 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426073000/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/jul/12/badger-cull-wales-brian-may?showallcomments=true#start-of-comments | archive-date=26 April 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> The group's primary concern is to ensure that the [[Hunting Act 2004]] and other laws protecting animals are retained in situ.<ref name="save-me.org.uk"/>

In an interview in September 2010 with [[Stephen Sackur]] for the BBC's ''[[HARDtalk]]'' program, May said that he would rather be remembered for his animal welfare work than for his music or scientific work.<ref>HARDtalk {{YouTube|MZ4eeS5D8dc|"clip of May's interview"}}, [[BBC]], 22 September 2010.</ref> May is supporter of the [[International Fund for Animal Welfare]], the [[League Against Cruel Sports]], [[PETA UK]] and the Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue. In March 2012, May contributed the foreword to a target paper published by the think tank the [[Bow Group]], urging the government to reconsider its plans to cull thousands of badgers to control [[bovine TB]], stating that the findings of Labour's major badger culling trials, several years earlier, show that culling does not work. The paper was authored by Graham Godwin-Pearson with contributions by leading [[tuberculosis]] scientists, including [[John Krebs, Baron Krebs|Lord Krebs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bowgroup.org/content/bow-group-urges-government-scrap-badger-cull-plans |title=Bow Group urges the Government to Scrap Badger Cull plans |publisher=Bow Publishing |date=25 March 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428121850/http://www.bowgroup.org/content/bow-group-urges-government-scrap-badger-cull-plans |archive-date=28 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/mar/26/badger-cull-bovine-tb-cattle-vaccination |title=Badger Cull divides Tories |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 March 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |location=London |first=Patrick |last=Barkham |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827100729/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/mar/26/badger-cull-bovine-tb-cattle-vaccination |archive-date=27 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Tories-calling-badger-cull-scrapped/story-15704061-detail/story.html |title=Now even Tories are calling for the badger cull to be scrapped |work=[[Western Morning News]] |date=3 April 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831003704/http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Tories-calling-badger-cull-scrapped/story-15704061-detail/story.html |archive-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> This prefaced his 2024 documentary, ''Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me,'' the culmination of a four-year investigation into whether badger culling is necessary for bovine TB prevention.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=23 August 2024 |title=Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me review – the Queen star could save so many animals' lives |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/aug/23/brian-may-the-badgers-the-farmers-and-me-review-the-queen-star-could-save-so-many-animals-lives |access-date=4 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In October 2010, May received an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare in recognition of his animal welfare work.<ref>{{Cite web|year=2010|title=Queen guitarist Brian May recognised by animal charity|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11558588|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|archive-date=|archive-url=}}</ref>

In May 2013, May teamed up with actor [[Brian Blessed]] and [[Flash animation|Flash]] cartoonist [[Jonti Picking|Jonti "Weebl" Picking]], as well as animal welfare groups including the [[RSPCA]], to form Team Badger, a "coalition of organisations that have teamed up to fight the planned cull of badgers".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teambadger.org.uk/about_teambadger.html |title=About TeamBadger |publisher=Teambadger.org.uk |access-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629142202/http://teambadger.org.uk/about_teambadger.html |archive-date=29 June 2014 }}</ref> With Weebl and Blessed, May recorded a single, "[[Save the Badger Badger Badger]]"—a [[Mashup (music)|mashup]] of Weebl's viral 2003 Flash cartoon [[Internet meme|meme]], "[[Badger Badger Badger]]", and Queen's "[[Flash (song)|Flash]]", featuring vocals by Blessed. On 1&nbsp;September 2013, "Save the Badger Badger Badger" charted at No. 79 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 39 on the UK [[iTunes]] chart<ref name="digitalspy">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a511347/brian-mays-save-the-badger-badger-badger-song-climbs-itunes-chart.html|title=Brian May's 'Save the Badger Badger Badger' song climbs iTunes chart|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=2 September 2013|date=30 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902200043/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a511347/brian-mays-save-the-badger-badger-badger-song-climbs-itunes-chart.html|archive-date=2 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and No. 1 on the iTunes Rock chart.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/30/badger-protest-song-brian-may|title=Badger protest song by Brian May reaches charts|newspaper=[[Newsquest|The Guardian]]|access-date=2 September 2013|date=30 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901161808/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/30/badger-protest-song-brian-may|archive-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2013 naturalist Sir [[David Attenborough]] and rock guitarist [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] joined May to form a supergroup, Artful Badger and Friends, and released a song dedicated to badgers, "Badger Swagger".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/04/slash-david-attenborough-brian-may-badger-swagger | title=Slash and David Attenborough join Brian May in pro-badger supergroup | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=4 June 2013 | access-date=16 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827184207/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/04/slash-david-attenborough-brian-may-badger-swagger | archive-date=27 August 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

May is a former vice-president of the RSPCA. In September 2024, he resigned his position as vice-president after "damning evidence" emerged of animal welfare failings at [[RSPCA Assured]] farms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Prior |first1=Malcolm |title=Queen's Brian May quits RSPCA over its food welfare label |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy97y5y3wjo |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=4 October 2024 |date=27 September 2024}}</ref>

===Stereophotography===
May has had a lifelong interest in collecting Victorian [[Stereoscopy|stereophotography]]. In 2009, with co-author Elena Vidal, he published his second book, ''A Village Lost and Found,''<ref name=lostandfound/> on the work of English stereophotography innovator T. R. Williams.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Village Preserved, Green and All: Brian May's Photographic Recovery |first=Randy |last=Kennedy |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 July 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/arts/design/24may.html |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111173250/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/arts/design/24may.html |archive-date=11 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was awarded The [[Royal Photographic Society]]'s Saxby Medal in 2012 for achievement in the field of three-dimensional imaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rps.org/annual-awards/Saxby-Award |title=Royal Photographic Society's Saxby Award Accessed 29 October 2012 |publisher=Rps.org |access-date=27 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231031111/http://www.rps.org/Annual-awards/Saxby-Award |archive-date=31 December 2013 }}</ref>

May made a significant technical contribution to the book to accompany the exhibition 'Stereoscopic Photographs of Pablo Picasso by [[Robert Mouzillat]]', held at the [[Holburne Museum]] in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], England, from February to June 2014. The book provides photographs of Picasso in his studio, at a bullfight at [[Arles]], and in his garden. May's 3D Owl viewer is used to view the photographs in 3D.

The purchase of his first card in 1973 started May on a lifelong and worldwide search for [[Les Diableries]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/8322/brian-mays-visions-hell/|title=Brian May's Visions Of Hell|work=MOJO|date=31 October 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826072331/http://www.mojo4music.com/8322/brian-mays-visions-hell/|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> which are stereoscopic photographs depicting scenes of daily life in Hell. On 10 October 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonstereo.com/books.html|title=Retrieved 8 March 2014|publisher=Londonstereo.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811121552/http://www.londonstereo.com/books.html|archive-date=11 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> the book ''Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell'' by Brian May, Denis Pellerin and Paula Fleming was published.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10401890/Brian-May-theres-life-in-the-old-devil-yet.html|title=Brian May: there's life in the old devil yet|date=25 October 2013|work=The Telegraph|access-date=27 September 2014|last1=Middleton|first1=Christopher|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114230525/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10401890/Brian-May-theres-life-in-the-old-devil-yet.html|archive-date=14 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, May published ''Queen in 3-D'',<ref>{{Cite book|last=May|first=Brian|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1002896816|title=Queen in 3-D|date=2017|others=London Stereoscopic Company|isbn=978-0-9574246-8-5|location=[London, England]|oclc=1002896816}}</ref> chronicling the group's 50-year history. It contains over 300 of his own stereoscopic photos and is the first book about the band published by one of its members. Included with the book is May's patented OWL Stereoscopic Viewer.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-may-unveils-queen-history-in-expansive-3-d-photo-book-w491949|title=Brian May Unveils Queen History in Expansive 3-D Photo Book|date=12 July 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=1 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702064526/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-may-unveils-queen-history-in-expansive-3-d-photo-book-w491949|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021, May was awarded an honorary fellowship and Denis Pellerin was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Literature from the Royal Holloway College, University of London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/news/musician-dr-brian-may-cbe-is-made-an-honorary-fellow-and-photo-historian-denis-pellerin-made-an-honorary-doctor-by-royal-holloway/|title= Musician, Dr Brian May CBE is made an Honorary Fellow and photo-historian, Denis Pellerin made an Honorary Doctor by Royal Holloway|access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://brianmay.com/brian-news/2021/07/brian-hon-fellowship-royal-holloway-then-home-to-flood/|title=Brian Hon Fellowship Royal Holloway – then home to flood 13 July 2021|date=13 July 2021 |access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref> The conferred degrees recognised their work to preserve Victorian stereoscopy through the London Stereoscopic Company. It recognises their contribution to photography and preservation.