the underground music scene was created in order for a safe space to thrive for all of the kids who felt rejected. all of the kids who felt like they were misfits in their school. they weren’t popular. they listened to weird music and had weird impulses. they found a scene, a high school scene where they could play or listen to music without judgement or feeling threatened. and lately, in the state of connecticut, there has been an alarming amount of threatening behavior especially in this new high school scene that is beginning to take shape. 

i’m going to say this bluntly. if you use homophobic, racist, or misogynistic language while considering yourself a member of the scene, you are poison. you are killing the scene that you claim to love. and if you feel the need to rationalize your use of any sort of hateful slurs, it is unfathomable how much you are destroying such a beautiful thing. just because you are young doesn’t make using the pseudo-adjective “gay” okay. just because you have black friends who encourage your use of the word “nigga” mean that you can walk around at shows saying it to your friends. by creating exclusivity and naive hate, you are alienating groups of people who want to get involved. you are on the same level as the jocks you claim to hate. and you’ll make those people coming into this scene feel the same way. there are bands right now full of older people who are setting this example. use your brain. know that it’s wrong. don’t support them no matter how good their music may be. they are shutting out accessibility willingly by saying things that can be triggering or offensive to certain groups.

have a brain. if you don’t use it soon, your scene is in for a rude awakening.