In the latest installment of the xsisterhoodx series highlighting women in the straight-edge community, we’re excited to present an interview with Morgan Shae. Balancing her roles as a mother of four with a passion for hiking, gaming, tattooing, and reading, Morgan brings a unique perspective to the scene.
Keep up with Morgan by following her on instagram: moonrisemorgan
Tell us about yourself!Â
I’m a mother of four, I enjoy hiking and gaming. My two biggest hobbies are tattooing and reading. Horror movies and mortuary science are two of my biggest passions.
What are you listening to these days?
I really love David Bowie and the Cure. I also listen to a lot of Hot Mulligan, Legendary Weapons, The Misfits and Kublai Khan Tx.
What’s your straight edge story?
So growing up I went to punk shows and had always felt this pressure of like you have to be bad to be punk so I never really knew what straight edge was. I grew up in a family where everyone was an addict and abused alcohol/drugs I hated it and never really wanted to be like that. I decided pretty young after some experiences that drinking and drugs were not for me and that’s a lifestyle I am absolutely not interested in. I became straight edge last year, October of 2023 .
I saw a friend of mine named Andrew on Instagram post about being straight edge and I was very interested, so I did research and found a whole community and at that moment I knew it was for me and I was ready to dedicate my life to straight edge.
How do you define straight edge?Â
I don’t really know how to define Straight edge but I have seen the difference of being sober and straight edge . I see people in my family struggling to stay sober and when they are sober they are miserable and feel like they aren’t making the decision they really desire .
I love being straight edge and sober , I feel so good in my body and how I’m treating it . I don’t feel like I’m being forced to be straight edge it’s a decision I made because it’s what I desire and I feel amazing about it .
True or False: “If you’re not now, you never were”?Â
False. I think life is very muddy and everyone has their own story and experiences. I feel like if someone makes the decision to be straight edge again and makes that commitment it should be celebrated.
Over the past decade or so individuals in recovery have stumbled upon straight edge, and it has really spoken to them. Â Do you feel that the straight edge community has been, and should be welcoming to those in recovery? Â Â
Absolutely, I wish my little sister would become straight edge . She has been an addict for years and it has completely destroyed her life , I feel like if she made the decision to give all of that up and become straight edge her life would drastically improve and we would have a healthy relationship.
Have you ever felt that your gender has influenced your experience in the straight edge and/or hardcore scene?
I’ve only had positive experiences with women in straight edge . It makes me feel super stoked that I’m apart of something like this with cool women.
Do you feel that the straight edge movement/scene is inclusive?
I wish more people were open and talking about it . Like I said before I grew up having no idea what straight edge was and I grew up in the punk scene until I was an adult . I think people are scared to say they are straight edge out of fear or being judged by others and I wish that would change .
Has being straight edge had an impact on your relationships?
Yes it has, for the most part, it’s had a negative impact with my family . My straight edge lifestyle makes my family feel negative towards me they take it as I think I’m better than them and makes them feel insecure about the choices they make. It’s had a positive impact on my relationship with my significant other and he also became straight edge . Being sober-minded in a relationship is very important to me.
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 think the punk music scene is a very big part of straight edge and I don’t know how you can be straight edge without it. Straight edge came to be because punks wanted to show you didn’t have to live the party / destructive life style and you could be punk and also sober.
Final Thoughts?
I feel really stoked being apart of this interview and being able to share what straight edge is to me and I love you’re giving women a voice to speak up .
