...even fetal humans and brain dead humans are legally recognized as people, and a chimp has more awareness of self that that.

This is an argument that we should give fetal humans and the brain dead "less".
That we don't is mostly "charity" or simply being unwilling to draw lines... or because of religion.

I'm not saying that this is a "bad" thing. Easily explained bright lines that are are a good thing and it's kept society stable (etc). But just because we choose to extend our charity in some marginal cases isn't a good argument to extend it in others.

I choose to give money to some charities. That I choose to do this doesn't mean I have to supply equal money to others.