8 years ago Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were attacked whilst they walked through a park by a gang of 5 teenage boys; simply for looking different.
Sophie and Rob were goths. They both dressed in black and Sophie sported long colourful dreads. They didn’t provoke the group, didn’t start anything, they were simply attacked. The attack was so brutal the couple both fell into comas. Rob survived, however has lasting brain damage. Sadly 13 days after the attack it was clear that Sophie would never wake up and her family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.
However I’m not going to give the thugs that did this any more time or space as they don’t deserve it. Like Sophie’s family I’d rather celebrate her life, what she stood for and give something positive to her death. Her family set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation (http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/) which focuses on creating respect for and understanding of subcultures in our communities.
As someone who has been bullied in the past for how I look I understand how difficult it can be to stand strong and confident in who you are, especially when there are people out there who are willing to hurt you for it.
But what I’ve come to realise is that, humans will always fear what they don’t understand. Majority of us take this and make the effort to understand and learn. However the lesser educated of us turn that fear into anger and aggression. Sadly not all of these people can be educated into decent human beings, but that shouldn’t stop us. Their fear shouldn’t stop us from living the life we were born to live. And I don’t mean that solely from a gothic point of view I mean everyone. Dress however you want, its your life, your body, your style. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.
Unlike those who are afraid, we are not and we never will be. We have compassion, respect and dignity for ourselves and everyone around us.
Be true to yourself, if not for you this week then for Sophie, may she rest in peace.
liverfool 
