Tell us about yourself! Hobbies, jobs, passion projects, interests?
I’m a professional ice skater and acrobat. I also compete in Inline Figure Skating for Team USA. Won 3rd at worlds in 2021. Plan to compete again this July in France. I love art, music, photography, and being in nature. Fun fact I’m also adopted. I’m an animal rights and human rights activist too; which I’m very passionate about. When I’m not on the road touring with skating; I’m a skating coach, yoga instructor, and dog walker. I enjoy drawing and making art when I can too and taking pictures at shows.
What are you listening to these days? (does not have to be hardcore) What are some of your favorite bands and/or podcasts?
It changes by the month and my mood. HA! Secretly a huge Elvis and Dolly fan. Been playing a lot of Tom Waits, Miley Cyrus, Queens Way, Sanguisugabogg, Lana Del Rey, Sko Gudiño, Year of the Knife, and Hatebreed this month. Shelter chants and mediations too.
What’s your straight edge story? How old were you when you “claimed edge”? How long have you been straight edge? Was there a key moment that made you realize straight edge is the way you want to live your life? How did you find out about straight edge, was there someone in the community that introduced you, or were you introduced to it through people/bands, etc? What drew you to it?
I knew what straight edge was from multiple sources; my uncle showed me sxe bands like Minor Threat and Judge, went to shows, and watched videos on YouTube. I guess what “drew me to it,” was the fact of was the complete opposite of my sister and the unfortunate choices she was making in her life at the time that I wanted nothing to do with. She was/still is a heroin addict among other things; I knew that wasn’t something I ever wanted in my life. Seeing what drugs did to her and my family, I never wanted any part of that. I also never saw the appeal of drinking and I am fortunate to grow up without parents who drink. Smoking is just nasty. In 2021, I found out my birth mother is also a heroin addict. It was a wow moment for me since I had chosen this lifestyle at an early age and am very thankful I did. Been straight edge 14 years since I was 13. Vegan for 5 years now!
How do you define straight edge? What makes straight edge different from being sober? Is your definition fluid or concrete? Do you think you will ever NOT be straight edge? What keeps you committed?
Committed lifestyle to never drinking, smoking, or doing drugs.
To me, the difference between being sober is you don’t drink but could possibly partake in smoking and drugs.
Being edge is definitely concrete for me and never changing.
I will see myself being edge for life.
What keeps me committed is still seeing my sister struggle with addiction and not wanting help. Also seeing other situations involving overly intoxicated or high people and knowing I (myself) never want that or be around that. I do reach out and try to help people but the biggest lesson I learned early on is people won’t change unless they want to; no matter how much help and love you give them. I also don’t think I would have ever had the career I have today as a pro skater if I had chosen to partake in drugs or alcohol at all.
True or False: “If you’re not now, you never were”? If you were once straight edge and now you are back, what happened? What brought you back? How has your relationship with straight edge evolved?
Interesting question. I’m a pretty understanding person I’d like to think. I think if you are claiming straight edge again and you are committed to this lifestyle and you are committed to abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and smoking; yes you can be straight edge again. It’s all about commitment and doing what’s best for you and staying true to that commitment. We all make mistakes in life, and we all do things we regret. But it’s not about what we were in the past, it’s who we are now and what we’re living for now. It’s just about being committed to a straight edge lifestyle and not reverting back to a non-straight edge lifestyle.
Over the past decade or so individuals in recovery have stumbled upon straight edge, and it has really spoken to them. Do you feel that the straight edge community has been, and should be welcoming to those in recovery?
Yes. If the person wants to change and wants this lifestyle as a part of their life; then yes a strange community not only should be welcoming to them but offer support and different resources to not only help them and encourage them along the way but to help a person in recovery not to revert back. It’s all about the person’s actions showing they want to change and want this lifestyle. Actions speak louder than words as they say.
Also, people shouldn’t ever shame someone in recovery. That’s the first step to wanting to change and I feel a lot of people don’t recognize that.
Have you ever felt that your gender has had influenced your experience in the “straight edge and/or hardcore scene”. If so, how? Have you had negative/positive experiences?
I really don’t know because the best thing I taught myself was to not care what people think of me at a young age when I would be bullied a lot at my ice rink for being different, being sxe, and going to shows. I knew at a super young age I was fluid in gender and bisexual. Shows actually made me feel like I could be myself and also dress how I wanted to. When I was 15, the only negative thing was some dude told me I couldn’t mosh… so then I just moshed 10x harder because I wasn’t going to have someone tell me I cousin Thrace fun let alone because I was an owner of a vagina. LOL.
Do you feel that the straight edge movement/scene is inclusive? What are things that can be done to make it more inclusive? What sort of changes would you like to see?
I want to say yes; but to be honest, I’m on tour a lot during the year so going to shows isn’t as frequent as I’d like. I think it varies around the world from different scenes I’ve been able to attend shows at.
You can never not show enough kindness and compassion to others; sxe or not I always say. And supporting everyone/being inclusive, especially during these times.
Has being straight edge had an impact on your relationships (family, friends, significant others). If so how would you characterize that impact?
I would definitely say now I do look for a partner who holds the same ideals as me as compared to when I was younger. But that’s because I want a partner who holds the same values as me.
There’s an ongoing debate on whether one can be straight edge without being a part of the music scene, what are your thoughts on this?
That’s a silly question to me. Of course, they can. If someone says they can’t then they seem little close-minded.
People have jobs, families, and obligations. We aren’t 16 anymore and have loads of free time.
Final Thoughts? Is there anything else you’d like to add? Maybe questions you think we should add or change?
Support one another. Kindness goes a long way. You never know what someone is going through; sxe or not. Especially in times like these with all the chaos around the world, we need to stand together more than ever with all our brothers and sisters to not only support each other but stand up to all the injustices of the world.
