Emo-bashing: the latest trend

Trixie Lox looks at the recent ‘trend’ for goth and emo-bashing

Many of you have probably heard about the sickening murder of 19-year-old Sophie Lancaster by a group of ‘chav thugs’ who are said to have targeted her because she was a Goth.

She was walking through Stubbylee Park in Bacup in the summer of 2007 with her boyfriend Robert Maltby when they were set upon by a group of five lads, two of which – Ryan Herbert and Brendan Harris – were eventually charged with her murder. During their trial, the court was told that the main reason for her murder was “because she looked different”.

Crazy huh?

Thing is, this isn’t the only case of reported ‘hate crime’ against Goths and emo-types. There seems to be a worrying trend lately, all over the world, for emo and goth-bashing. There was a huge case in the US years ago when punk rocker Brian Deneke was killed in a hit and run accident by a ‘jock’ purely because he was – you guessed it – a bit ‘different’.

Lately, there’s been a spate of similar attacks in the US in particular, with emo kids being set upon in places such as Mexico City, Chile and across the border in Juarez, Mexico. There are also groups forming websites dedicated to emo-bashing. For example, on Bebo, there’s a group called ‘grungers-should-die’ (lovely!).

But hey, don’t start digging your bunker and stocking up on canned goods just yet.

In the grand scheme of things, the incidents that end in violence are pretty rare. But there’s some interesting stuff going on to address this. Goth campaigner Ade Varney is currently lobbying the Government to make crimes against people based on their appearance or interests come under the definition of a ‘hate crime’.

Currently, ‘hate crime’ includes race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability. But Ade is campaigning for it to also include personal appearance or subculture. This means that tougher sentences will be dished out and, in turn, might make people think twice.

Martin Coles, aka DJ Martin Oldgoth, has also played an active part in campaigning for emo and goth rights. He organised a fund to create a special bench dedicated to Sophie Lancaster in Whitby, home of the UK's largest goth festival.

Over a period of two months, he raised around 3,000 pounds to pay for the bench and held a dedication ceremony during the biannual Whitby Gothic Weekend in April, which drew a crowd of around 800 people.

He told e-Mo Magazine “When Sophie died it came as such a huge blow to the UK scene, and indeed around the world. We're all used to verbal and, sometimes, physical abuse. But murder in the UK for something so trivial as the way you are dressed was just so extreme.

“A group of us decided that something had to be done to raise awareness of what had been going on and, hopefully, do something positive in Sophie’s memory, giving her a legacy that would not only ensure she’d never be forgotten, but also to change the world for the better.”

He added: “Worldwide, the goth and alternative scenes were fantastic, backing me 110 per cent and together, we not only raised awareness but also drew the different scenes closer together. We all face abuse and there’s no reason for it. I just hope that people will now see us as being no different to them and we can bring an end to the hate.

"My advice to anyone facing hatred for how they choose to live echoes what Sophie’s mum said at the bench dedication, ‘it's not you that has to change, it's them.” We should be proud to be who we are, and as much as possible, not let others dictate our lives or what we wear. Stand up for your right to choose, but don’t take chances, stay safe, and one day things will get better

We are united now, and you are not alone.”

To support the S.O.P.H.I.E. campaign, visit www.myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie

Emo-bashing: the latest trend

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