Straight edge is everywhere today.  If you Google search “Kristen Stewart and Minor Threat,” you'll find a picture of her with an "Out of Step" t-shirt on that she wore to a press conference.  In the search results you can find links to where you can buy your very own "Out of Step" t-shirt.  The irony of this would make many-a-person growing up in the early 1980s either giggle or become really pissed off. For me, seeing Kristen Stewart with a straight edge themed t-shirt is just confusing. I mean, everyone knows that she smokes marijuana, right? However I find myself wondering if maybe this isn’t actually bad for straight edge. A young boy or girl can be like "Oh hey, Bella is wearing that cool t-shirt, what is a Minor Threat?", thus allowing the straight edge community to grow. Or more likely, they could just wear it for a week to make a fashion statement, which is actually a pretty good metaphor for the straight edge craze that went on in my teen years.

Mike Roberti's old band Maury.

Growing up is tough. High school can be an especially terrifying time, with thousands of kids all jostling to find where they fit.  For most of my high school career I always felt like an outcast. I took my best friend to prom, and my only high school relationship occurred in my senior year, with a freshman girl from another school. To make matters worse, I never was invited to “the Parties.” When I think back on who was at those parties, however, I realize I never wanted to be around those people in the first place.  I think those people, and the parties they threw, helped me to realize that straight edge would be the lifestyle choice for me.  The funny thing about that though, was I did not fit in with the straight edge kids in high school either. I got into straight edge through my love of punk rock, especially Minor Threat, and saw myself as more of an old school fan. I heavily resented most of the Christian straight edge kids, and their awful Metalcore Emo music. For me, it was never a trend or phase, and that’s how I felt that most of those kids treated it.  Now that I am 22, I can see that I was right for the most part.  I don't let it get to me when I see my friends drinking or doing other self-destructive things. Being straight edge has always been about one thing for me: being myself. Besides, what's more punk rock than staying true to yourself?

Mike Roberti, 22, from my own hometown Melbourne, Florida always came off as someone being true to himself.  Though I was never really close to Roberti, we both were part of a growing local music scene that seemed to reach its peak about 4 years ago.

"I learned about it at about 12, and at 13 I decided to claim, the only real change for my lifestyle at the time was I no longer planned on drinking at all later in life. I didn't entirely know what it was at the time, but it seemed like a good decision to make," says Roberti.

Roberti first heard about straight edge through his friend Jeff Bellinger, who would later go on to be in numerous bands with Roberti, including their most infamous project Maury.  Today, they both play in the band Iron Will.

"I wasn't particularly influenced to claim, because I wasn't to up on the scene at the time. However, in my young straight edge life my biggest influence was Seventh Star, because they were a straight edge influenced Christian band, which I could relate to," says Roberti.

Roberti was straight edge for about 8 years and decided to not be straight edge or "sell out" about a year and a half ago right before his 21st birthday.  Tyler Vazquez is another Brevard county native that has been straight edge for over 5 years and has no intention of stopping any time soon. Claiming edge at age 16, Vazquez is now 21 and still living in Brevard.  Coming from Rockledge, a scene mostly known for their ska and pop punk bands, Vazquez emerged as a straight edge kid who didn't exactly find himself immersed in the hardcore scene.  When asked why he decided to claim edge, Vazquez simply says, "myself."

Despite our differences we were all apart of one large scene that has seemed to die out over the last few years.

"It is dead as dead. I don't hang around there too much, but it seems like there are less straight edge bands than any time I can remember in the recent past," says Roberti.

Though there seems to be no hope for the Melbourne scene, straight edge scenes have existed internationally for decades and are still going strong.  Jimi O' Loughlin hailing from Melbourne, Australia, claims to have heard about straight edge through the internet.

"I was probably around 16 or 17 at the time, had recently discovered the local underage punk scene and was starting to realize that there were punk bands that weren't the Sex Pistols or the Dead Kennedys. All my friends were starting to drink and/or smoke at the time, but I wasn't really into it. But I still thought straight edge seemed a bit stupid because at the time 'hardcore' was a dirty word to me and I was mostly listening to British bands because people told me they had the most cred. Eventually I moved away from that and started to listen to bands like Minor Threat and straight edge seemed more legit or whatever, but to this day I still don't feel like I really embrace straight edge, I just don't drink, smoke, take drugs, whatever," says O' Loughlin.

O' Loughlin's story is not too different from how I discovered straight edge and cites Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat as his biggest influence rather than a large straight edge scene in Australia.

"I was only vaguely aware of a straight edge scene in Melbourne until Gorilla Biscuits toured. It hit me really suddenly, like 'Wow, there are actually edge bands in Melbourne and there's a whole bunch of kids here that I've never seen before with Xs on their hands.' It didn't really change anything, I just went back to the same friends I had always been hanging out with after the show," says O' Loughlin.

"If you asked me from about age 15-19 I would have said there is never an excuse to sell out. Then about a year before I moved I kind of started questioning my priorities and why I was straight edge and decided I was doing it 'for the kids.' I was a part of a straight edge band at the time and certain people had told me that we had inspired them to stop drinking or doing drugs," says Roberti, "to be honest, it became about selling out for the right reasons or staying edge for the wrong reasons." - Mike Roberti

Straight edge can even be found in European countries, which seem to me like the least likely places to find straight edge kids.  With a culture that finds drinking at a younger age not-so taboo as here in the states, it was odd when O' Loughlin recounted a conversation he had with a Swede.

"I met this guy from Sweden who actually claimed [edge] earlier this year and he was just the coolest, least in your face edge guy I have ever met.  One time we were talking about edge and he was like, 'My band are all edge, but we don't X up everyday and go looking for trouble, but we always wear Xs when we play shows to show people that you can have a good time without drugs or alcohol or cigarettes and also not be an asshole to people, just set a positive example.'  Since then I've taken edge a lot more seriously," says O' Loughlin.

Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat, 1981.

O' Loughlin's Swedish friend raises an important point.  Straight edge has over the years received a negative connotation related to gangs like FSU.  Straight edge gangs like FSU in the early 1990s originally had good intentions like eradicating drug dealers and neo-Nazis from their local music scene, but the violence became too much.  People would be attacked for just smoking or drinking at a show and that kind of violence is just senseless. So now, police in Las Vegas have been known to pull over people with straight edge bumper stickers for gang affiliation.  At times it can be hard to balance your judgment of other people who are not straight edge and some times I can understand when people get upset over a friend drinking.  It has happened to me on many an occasion, but at some point you have to realize this is your choice and your choice alone.  With that being said one of the biggest controversies in the straight edge community is the concept of "selling out."  This is where the violence occurs. People often are chastised for "turning their backs on the scene," and no one should fear retribution for making their own choice.

"You make a promise you do your best to keep. It would be nice if other people didn't sell out, but ultimately my promise is to myself and people have to make their own decisions. I can't let what they choose to affect me too much," says Vazquez.

Roberti, however, knows personally about selling out.

"If you asked me from about age 15-19 I would have said there is never an excuse to sell out. Then about a year before I moved I kind of started questioning my priorities and why I was straight edge and decided I was doing it 'for the kids.' I was a part of a straight edge band at the time and certain people had told me that we had inspired them to stop drinking or doing drugs," says Roberti, "to be honest, it became about selling out for the right reasons or staying edge for the wrong reasons."

For O' Loughlin, a person's attitude can affect just how a person handles being straight edge.

"I think that if someone is like 'I guess I'm kind of straight edge', but then change their mind and decide to start drinking or whatever, that's OK and I'm not really going to judge them for it," says O' Loughlin, "but on the other hand if people are like 'I'm straight edge and fuck you for drinking and smoking and I'm going to kick your ass and I'm more pure than you' or whatever, then turn around and do all the things they were so against, well that's less okay and is going to result in me thinking less of the person than I already did."

It can be hard to feel respected by your non-straight edge peers.  It seems a common theme that everyone who is straight edge (at the least people I talk to) are made fun of by their peers either in a ill-tempered manner or just goofing around.

"Judge not lest ye be judged I guess," says Roberti, "I always had more sympathy for my friends than outsiders so the last line is a bit hypocritical."

"When I was straight edge I got a lot of shit.  People would pass me spiked drinks or call me stupid or say that I was a goody goody or say that I was too religious. Other people would lump me into categories with other local straight edge kids who I didn't share the same perspective with," says Roberti.

For Vazquez everything comes down to a mutual respect.

"People who don't respect my decisions don't deserve me to respect their judgment," says Vazquez.

Kyra Wehby, 21, is originally from Miami and is now attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando.  Wehby is all too familiar with being judged by ones she cares for.  According to her, some of her relationships have even fallen through because of her beliefs.

"I have been made fun of, excluded, and altogether disliked because of my straight edge beliefs. Especially in college, I find that it's harder for me to make friends than people that consume substances and I have to prove myself more than the next girl that participates in those activities. Ninety percent of my friends drink and do drugs. These people have learned to accept me for who I am just as I accept them. There are also many people that don't want anything to do with me because I don't drink or do drugs. I have lost many significant others because they can't accept that I won't have a drink with them," says Wehby.

Attending the same college, I can understand Wehby's frustrations and it must be even harder for her because she is a girl that is straight edge.  I'm not sure if this rumor is true, but I have heard from a few straight edge men that girls cannot be straight edge.  Personally, that statement alone sounds rather sexist in such a male dominated punk rock/hardcore music scene.  It seems like that no matter where girls want to fit in they always have to prove themselves as one of the guys.  That honestly should not be the case.  Luckily, there are resources for straight edge girls, who might have a hard time finding acceptance at the meat-head filled local shows.  Websites like xSisterhoodx.com provide message boards, band information, and helpful links to a plethora of literature on feminism, human rights, veganism, etc., for straight edge girls all over the world.  Straight edge social networking!  Who would have thought!

Wehby finds the assumption that girls can't be straight edge as completely untrue.

"Straight edge has nothing to do with what sex you are and anyone who says that is ignorant," says Wehby.

Lissette Galvan, 21, is also a girl that is straight edge.  She hails from northern Ft. Myers which has a relatively small straight edge scene with only a handful of kids.  She too blames pure ignorance for such sexist assumptions. The straight edge guys I talked to though seem to be out of loop.

"I don't know any straight edge girls, but I'm sure some exist," says Vazquez.

"I don't think I've ever met a straight edge girl, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I haven't really met many straight edge guys either. I guess punk rock in general is pretty male dominated though," says O' Loughlin.

When Roberti was asked if he knows any straight edge girls, he kind of laughed and said, "Uh, I always took that to be a joke, but I will say most of the sellouts I know are girls so who knows. Definitely a sexist view point though."

So it's safe to assume that there is some ignorance floating around the straight edge scene, but at least everyone can agree that it is wrong to think that there couldn't be a single straight edge female anywhere in the world.

Girls are not the only ones that have it tough though it seems that everyone in the straight edge scene faces some kind of judgment from their peers.

"I think from now on when people are being dicks and try to ask me why I don't drink or whatever, I'm going to say it's for religious reasons just to fuck with them," says O' Loughlin.

O' Loughlin brings up another good point that straight edge people often face: The separation of straight edge and religion.  Several religions all around the world follow some of the doctrines of straight edge.  Abstinence is one of the biggest with Christian denominations. Although though there is no rule in straight edge that says you can't have sex before marriage, you must at least be in loving committed relationship (though this seems to be the hardest part for people follow).  Either way, it is easy for people who are unaware of straight edge to judge someone as a neo-conservative. Though it would seem that Christianity and straight edge could go well together, several factions of straight edge actually promote a "God Free" doctrine.

"I can understand why some people would promote a 'God Free' message, but I don't think that straight edge has anything to do with religion. It actually bothers me a lot when people confuse Christians with straight edge people. They are two completely different sets of beliefs but I do think that a person can be religious and straight edge at the same time," says Wehby.

Galvan has a similar idea on the subject.

"Well I'm not religious at all, but I can see how it can be confused as such.  People of both creeds should adopt these morals. But there should be no connection to religion on the base of the word straight edge just the person who calls themselves as such,” says Galvan.

"If you're a Christian then your religion obviates straight edge. If you believe in God, then you shouldn't have to claim edge. The problem is that most Christians don't uphold their values, so a lot of Christians claim edge to say 'Hey, I take this seriously.' Secular straight edge kids shouldn't exclude religious ones, in the same sense that nobody should exclude anybody else over religious belief," says Vazquez.

Though a Christian who used to be straight edge, Roberti feels Christianity and straight edge are both mutually separate and mutually exclusive.

"Straight edge CAN be a religion, it can be a lot of things, and though it is a lifestyle I've seen people elevate it to the point where it was the god of their lives. This is not to say it always is, but it definitely does happen. As far as the lack of religion and morals, I guess it's the same as anything else, people make their own choices for philosophy," says Roberti.

Roberti's old band Maury.

Straight edge and religion are rather similar in the fact that they provide a moral guideline for some one to follow.  What about vegetarianism and veganism?  They are diet choices, but at times bring about a strong moral stance within those that choose that lifestyle.  Whether they are concerned about globalization, supporting local communities, love animals, want to better their health, or just don't like the taste of meat everyone has their own reason.  Straight edge and veganism became more intertwined after bands like Youth of Today and Earth Crisis appeared on the scene in the late 1980s.  They took a more militant stance which promoted a meat free lifestyle.  With the rise of organizations like PETA and every celebrity making their hottest vegetarian list more and more people are leaning toward a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, but how do other straight edge people feel about this "hip" diet choice.

"In the strictest sense straight edge is straight edge and veganism is veganism, they work well together but are separate entities. Absolutely, they go wonderful together, both are about promoting positive, healthy choices and keeping your body clean," says Roberti.

O' Loughlin agrees with Roberti that these are separate choices as well.

"For a lot of people they do and I can see their reasoning, in that it is abstaining from something most people do without even thinking about it based on moral grounds," says O'Loughlin.

"I think being vegan or vegetarian is a personal choice just like straight edge. Yes, they are related but I don't believe someone has to be veg in order to be straight edge. I am a vegetarian and I made that choice completely separate from my choice to take edge," says Wehby.

Galvan however, is vegan and sees both as equal.

"When I started out I still ate meat not realizing that it was associated till after I became vegan and I saw that it had something to do with the straight edge lifestyle. But if I personally think they go hand in hand, yes seeing how it's keeping your body clean of things that do harm to your body," says Galvan.

David Roloff of Tallahassee, Florida was the only guy I talked to who was vegan and straight edge.

"Personally I am vegetarian and I ate a vegan diet for 8 years but no I dont think they go hand in hand. I think that falls more under the hardcore communities’ umbrella," says Roloff.

Roloff, 31 is also the oldest person I talked to that was straight edge.  Personally, I think he has slowly become my idol.  He is married to a straight edge lady and they have an adorable straight edge child.  Just kidding, but when I asked if he would raise his child straight edge Roloff replied.

"Would I want my son to be straight edge? Yes. But at the same time when he is old enough to make those decisions I will love him no matter what he chooses to try or do," says Roloff.

Growing up in South Florida Roloff faced the same kind of hassles most young straight edge people face from non-straight edge peers.

"I was probably 16 or 17. I saw what drugs did to the people around me and it never appealed to me. I felt like an outcast and I was called a pussy by my 'friends' for not even trying any drugs, they made me feel like an alien. Somehow I stumbled upon hardcore and after going to a few shows I learned about straight edge and found that I wasn’t the only one who didn’t drink or do drugs. Hardcore was a community were I could be myself and I was accepted. I didn’t claim to be straight edge for another couple years even though I already was," says Roloff.

Roloff's commitment to being straight edge overshadows everyone else's just in time.  It always kind of breaks my heart when you see someone stick to straight edge only until they are 21.  Which begs the question, is there a reason to be straight edge after 21?

"The same as why you were straight edge before 21. There isn’t one good reason to drink, smoke, or do drugs," says Roloff.

Wehby agrees, stating,"Yes there is. Straight edge has nothing to do with age. People that are straight edge until 21 are ignorant and I don't consider them straight edge at all. I recently turned 21. My friends were handing me drinks on my birthday and it was really aggravating. A lot of people have also asked me to drink with them and when I decline they say 'But aren't you 21?' and I respond 'Yes, I am 21. So what?!' My age does not change my beliefs nor make me want to put that poison in my body,"

"I don't refrain from drinking because it's illegal. I do it because I think it's wrong for me. I'm 21 and I still don't drink because it's not about someone else's laws it's about yours," says Vazquez.

"Yes it is a positive lifestyle choice and can be great. I have no regrets about selling out, but if things were different I could have been straight edge my whole life, it isn't as hard as it's made out to be. However, there are those who will use it for popularity or to start fights or whatever. You just gotta do it for you and keep in mind why you did it in the first place," says Roberti.

I don't think I could have said it any better.

 Like most of the people I talked to, I am over the age of 21. As of recently, being straight edge has not been easy. Though at times straight edge people can feel like outcasts, it is comforting to know that there are other people who think just like you and understand your frustrations.  It is all about community, which has been and should always be the main foundation of punk rock. As I don't limit myself to only straight edge bands, I am always surrounded by different crowds.  I try to make friends from every lifestyle, creed, or gender.  Open mindedness is important to keep in mind not only in the straight edge scene, but with everyone you interact with in the day-to-day.

So, next time you see a celebrity in a funny t-shirt think about the message they are trying to convey.  Perhaps Miss Stewart is having a laugh at our expense and Ian Mackaye is… well, somewhere, and he is not happy.

/Tim McGowan