Why is "progressive" not so progressive?

It confuses me that people who call themselves "progressive" cease to be so if you bring up certain subjects. Animal liberation is the main one, of course. The idea that we condemn to lives of hell-- followed by painful death--billions of animals through factory farming and animal testing makes me sick every day of my life. But the average "liberal" or "progressive" does not support animal liberation and indeed, often chooses to know very little about the horrors perpetrated on animals. S/he may even make fun of the animal liberation movement.

Feminism, though it certainly gets more support than animal rights, is another subject that many so-called progressives do not seem to grasp. The same men who say they are liberals continue to use sexist language, and may even indulge in a number of sexist behaviors, such as focusing on women's looks rather than their actions, using gender-related put-downs, or regarding female managers or political leaders in a lesser light than they do male managers and leaders. Women who call themselves liberal sometimes are not comfortable with feminism, and prefer to avoid the topic.

Then there is the matter of gay rights. We have only to look at Congress to see how uncomfortable the so-called progressives are with gay issues.

Perhaps it is just I, but it seems peculiar to me to exclude any sentient being, or any group, from the struggle to end evil and injustice. And it breaks my heart.