I am a vegan and I love it!
Interestingly, The history of Vegetarianism stretches far into our remote past, as far back as at least ancient India or Greece.
Oh wow! How did it get to America?
I'm not really sure, but in most cases it developed due to ideas of nonviolence towards animals, for religious or other reasons.
Do you happen to know if there are any health benefits to being vegan?
While a well balanced diet is capable of providing nutrition, a vegan diet meets the dietary requirements for all stages of life.
What religious regions would someone be vegan for? 
One such festival to promote Veganism is the Vegfest, organized by rhe Vegetarian Association of Ghana.