Tell us about you? What do you do for a living? Do you have any pets, hobbies, pet projects?
I come to the Chicago area from Santa Cruz, California. Due to COVID, I have been unable to work, I have a doggo named Wiggles and he is pretty stinking awesome. I crochet and that is my little hobby as of late.
Favorite straight edge (or non-straight edge) bands? If you have links, please provide them!
BANE, Have Heart, Gather, Alkaline Trio, Remembering Never, Most Precious Blood, Snow Patrol, Tegan and Sara, Dangers, Modern Life is War- and I’m sure many many more
What is your definition of straight edge?
To abstain from alcohol, smoking, and drugs – I believe if one has a medical condition which requires medication that is between their doctor and them.
Where do you see the straight edge scene today?
Quite a bit of the kids I grew up with broke edge so I honestly don’t know how the scene I came forms doing but I know there is still a great scene out there that I’ve found through social media.
There’s an ongoing debate on whether one can be straight edge without being a part of the music scene, what’s your thoughts on this?
I would call that a sober person. I’d invite the person to find where the roots of straight edge came from and possibly why some of us are so protective of this movement.
What are some funny/common misconceptions people have about you being straight edge?
Mostly that I am a recovering addict (nope), just weird (possibly), and in a gang (uh???)
What are some challenges you have faced when interacting with other people who are also edge? If you haven’t had any challenges, tell us some challenges you’ve faced when interacting with people who are not edge?
I’ve always had this phrase about some people I have met who ate sxe that weren’t the most positive and its “edger than thou” like how many more years they have on your, more show they have gone to. It doesn’t get me down and now I think its funny,
Is your diet influenced or informed by your choice to be straight edge i.e. organic, antibiotic infused meat, genetically modified foods, vegan, vegetarian?
I was vegetarian and vegan prior to going straight edge so I think straight edge rounded it all off.
What’s your straight edge story? Was there a key moment that made you realize straight edge is the way you want to live your life? How old were you? 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 was 18 years old and I had a friend I knew was straight edge, I would see her at shows. I was already out on my own and my roommates the apartment I lived in were heavy partiers. We drank many nights out of the week. on 16 December 2002 I was to move out of the apartment and I got hammered. I was sick for 3 or 4 days the whole night and morning as I was violently sick I said to myself “I don’t want to do this anymore” and in an extreme self reflective moment I remembered the girl who told me about straight edge. Probably whilst still intoxicated I was thinking obsessively, I NEED straight edge” I know I was sober on 16 dec 2002 so that’s my EDGE-anniversary.
Define what straight edge means to you? Has this changed over the years?
I read this question and the BANE lyric from “Count Me Out” keeps sticking in my brain. So in Veganism and Straight Edge I have always said and believed that you do the absolute best you can. If you’re a non-vegan edge kid who has food cooked with beer, would I expect you to induce vomiting? No, for a few reasons- alcohol burns off during cooking but its that persons’ ethics and I would trust they can handle their straight edge. and now the BANE lyric:
I support your decision, I believe in change and you find
Just what it is that you are looking for?
But when you sit around and talk shit about everything that you once based your whole life on
That is where you can count me out
Because I will be here tomorrow and I will be here next year
Just like this X on the back of my hand, I’m not going nowhere
Do you consider yourself an activist? What is/are your cause(s), and how have you been working to advance them?
I have worked in animal rights activism, I currently am focusing my efforts to individuals who have been wrongfully convicted for crimes they did not commit.
What, if anything, keeps you committed to the straight edge lifestyle?
In 2016 my mum died very unexpectedly. She was from California but was visiting me in Illinois. I took her out for her birthday, we hung out, and she was fine. I dropped her at my gram’s house and in the middle of the night I get a call saying se was dead. She went from being totally okay to dead. She had some addiction issues as well as my sister. I have no clue how she died, the county didn’t want to do one. So I think that nails it down for me
What is something you didn’t think you would struggle with by claiming edge?
the constant questions, oh just have one sip, and how to drinking suddenly makes you boring and nobody wants to talk to you
What you do for stress relief instead of drinking/drugs, tips for peer pressure?
I always respond the same way, “this is just the way I am” I do yoga, I juice a lot
How was it being straight edge in this pandemic?
It was easy and I imagine I saved a whole lot of money than others who “needed” alcohol to get by. I learned to crochet.
If you are in a relationship is your partner straight edge, or have you had a previous relationship with someone who was not straight edge? What, if any, challenges have you faced relating to your lifestyle/choice?
My partner is sober and drug free but not straight edge. He is a punk rock guy but doesn’t claim edge but doesn’t partake in anything.
Has your family and social life been negatively or positively impacted? Have you faced or are you facing any specific challenges because of your lifestyle choices? If your family/friends are unsupportive, how do you deal?
when I tattooed my knuckles and lower knuckles it was a bit difficult for people to get over. I’ve been told I was stupid. These individuals in my fam now I don’t drink and am vegan and there is a crazy amount of questions each time.
Some straight edge women/girls I have talked to have told me that they feel isolated and that they find it difficult to relate to people outside of the straight edge scene. Is this something you can relate to?
100% especially being 36.
If you are straight edge and a parent, how has being straight edge informed how you parent and/or relate to other parents?
not a parent yet but I’m sure it will
How do you explain your lifestyle to others outside of the scene? Do you find it difficult? What’s your elevator pitch?
I don’t eat animal (anything that had a mother or bowel movement) and don’t consume alcohol, drugs, or smoke anything.
Over the past decade or so individuals in recovery have stumbled upon the straight edge lifestyle and it has really spoken to them. Do you feel that the straight edge community has been welcoming to those in recovery? Do you have mixed feelings? Strong Feelings?
it goes back to the question about being sxe question without listening to any founding music. It isn’t for me to say because who am I? but to them, what is the difference of between sober and straight edge?
How do you feel your straight edge commitment plays into the bigger social justice movement for gender equity?
I don’t think it does.
Have you ever had a negative experience in the scene related to your gender?
I actually haven’t. I know that’s probably a rare answer but I’ve always been treated well.
Straight edge and the associated music scene have long been male-dominated. What do you see as a woman/girls role in the scene? How has this role changed since you have been involved and what changes would you like to see?
Seeing any female (all or part) band is so uplifting for the women at the other side of the stage
What if any challenges have you faced that are specifically related to being a female in a male-dominated scene?
everyone always looked out for me
Do you feel the straight edge community has done enough to advance gender/race/social issues?
I’d like to see more gender/race/and social issues further advanced in the scene. How to do that? I don’t know but I do know it needs to happen.
Is the scene as inclusive as it likes to think it is? Do you think there’s work to be done? If so, what would you like to see change?
Theres work that needs to be done. For ex: I think if you’re an unknown female in a scene it would take a few times seeing you at shows before someone gave you a chance or accepted you. I would rather that acceptance happen first.
