Controversy Surrounding The Gothic Subculture
Occasionally, controversy arises around the gothic subculture because a violent act is committed by someone with a similar taste in fashion or music. Most of the media and those outside the gothic subculture often misconstrue the members as being malicious, although usually, the community is described by those inside as being completely non-violent, as well as open minded and tolerant of the individual. However, because of the interest in the macabre that the members of the community share, others also tend to worry about the well-being of Goths. Situations arise when an individual or group commit a crime, or act of violence, having made or then making a claim that they were involved in the Gothic community. The most popular incident, though neither the first or last, was the Columbine High School shooting.
Another school shooting was committed as well in Canada by an individual who described himself as Goth in his profile at VampireFreaks.com. His name was Kimveer Gill; at the college he managed to kill one, and injure almost twenty fellow students. Research was done by the author, and music journalist Mick Mercer, who determined that Gill was actually more into the heavy metal scene, but also concluded his argument for Goths by stating that “It doesn’t matter actually what music he liked.” Well said, considering the number of murderers and rapists that come from the suburbs, and yuppie community. And yet, the gothic subculture members don’t wander around, staring at people in cardigans and polos thinking that any minute, they’ll pull out a kitchen knife and begin carving. Goth subculture members are wary of the rest of the community out of an awareness of discrimination.
The Goths tendency to mistrust or fear other individuals outside the subculture is not unfounded. In Sand Diego, four gothic subculture members were attacked and assaulted by a member of the United States Navy. The attack resulted in one of the victims’ brother having to be rushed to a local emergency room to be operated on immediately in order to save his life. In the late summer of 2007, two gothic subculture members in England were attacked by a group of teenagers, and suffered severe injuries. One of them, a girl named Sophie Lancaster, died because of the injuries resulting in the attack. She was twenty years old, and walking with her boyfriend through a park when attacked. After arresting a few people involved, and releasing others, the community made a public outcry for better security measures to be taken in the area. However, Rossendale Borough Council officials concluded that it would be too expensive. The attack was also considered to be an isolated incident, although many members of the Gothic subculture are persecuted and attacked for their cultural differences in many communities worldwide.