The murder of Sophie Lancaster
From wikipedia:
'The Murder of Sophie Lancaster was a murder case in the United Kingdom in 2007. The victim was attacked along with her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, while walking through Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Rossendale in Lancashire. As a result of her severe head injuries she went into a coma, never regained consciousness, and later died. The police said the attack may have been provoked by the couple wearing gothic fashion and being members of the goth subculture.'
This hit home with me especially, because myself and my friends choose to dress in an 'alternative' way. Whilst I wouldn't say that I was a 'goth', we have piercings and tattoos, and tend not to gravitate towards more trendy music and clothing. I have been getting crap for this from 'chavs' in my city since I was about 14, and whilst it scared me at first, it doesn't bother me so much now.
Does anyone else suffer this kind of thing,and would you ever think that choosing a certain lifestyle such as being a 'goth' (and I'm using that term pretty loosely, anything that is deemed a bit different to the norm seems to be bunched up under that term) would put your life in danger?
Sophie's mum has started a charity in her name- S.O.P.H.I.E- The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which is campaigning 'to Widen the definition of 'Hate Crime', to include crimes committed against a person or persons, on the basis of their appearance or subcultural interests'.
More information can be found here.
'The Murder of Sophie Lancaster was a murder case in the United Kingdom in 2007. The victim was attacked along with her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, while walking through Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Rossendale in Lancashire. As a result of her severe head injuries she went into a coma, never regained consciousness, and later died. The police said the attack may have been provoked by the couple wearing gothic fashion and being members of the goth subculture.'
This hit home with me especially, because myself and my friends choose to dress in an 'alternative' way. Whilst I wouldn't say that I was a 'goth', we have piercings and tattoos, and tend not to gravitate towards more trendy music and clothing. I have been getting crap for this from 'chavs' in my city since I was about 14, and whilst it scared me at first, it doesn't bother me so much now.
Does anyone else suffer this kind of thing,and would you ever think that choosing a certain lifestyle such as being a 'goth' (and I'm using that term pretty loosely, anything that is deemed a bit different to the norm seems to be bunched up under that term) would put your life in danger?
Sophie's mum has started a charity in her name- S.O.P.H.I.E- The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which is campaigning 'to Widen the definition of 'Hate Crime', to include crimes committed against a person or persons, on the basis of their appearance or subcultural interests'.
More information can be found here.