True, animal rights and veganism are his signature issues and lifelong passion, but gay rights? He was closeted for most of his life, and then chose to strip new printings of his autobiography of the one passage that openly spoke of his romance with Jake. He's danced around the topic of his sexuality for years and years, offering only coy remarks like "I am humasexual." I've heard many in the LBGTQIA community express their disappointment in him and who don't consider him a good advocate or ally, whether he's gay, bi, queer, questioning, or wherever he may land on the spectrum. He may publicly applaud things like the acceptance and legal passing of gay marriage legislation, but he doesn't want anyone to think he's part of the community.
As for the other issues you listed, he's touched upon them in different ways, I guess -- through song and the occasional interview quote. I wouldn't call him a staunch advocate for most of those. What he has chosen to speak up about in recent years, besides animals, is immigration, Islam, For Britain, and assorted "England for the English" nonsense -- much of which has left a long trail of dispirited former fans in its wake.
I don't believe the press is "out to get him." There's no great conspiracy to drag his name through the mud. Much of the reporting has been dead accurate and factual -- with quotes that came directly from his lips that can't be construed as being "taken out of context." He's always been a lightning rod for controversy, but he's increasingly casting himself as an out of touch pariah.
So, yes, I still long for the Morrissey of old. He may be dead, but he's not forgotten. His ghost lingers and inspires. You can have the new Moz all to yourself.