In 1999 , a school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton , Colorado created a public backlash against local goths and especially gothic youths as some teachers and parents suddenly began to view goth fashion with suspicion and mistrust . Violence of any kind had always been very rare at Toronto goth clubs , and notable figures in the goth community spoke to the media against associating violence with " goth " . They insisted that the shooters were not goths , did not listen to goth music , and that goths were non-violent and pacifistic . Certain elements of the media , notably the local entertainment and culture media , also defended goths . '' Eye Weekly '' columnist Donna Lypchuk wrote , " I 've been laughing for the past two weeks as talking heads blame the goth subculture for the killings in Colorado . The mainstream goth movement , which has been around for at least 25 years , is not secret enough to be a subversive society . " Five months later a report from authorities in Colorado confirmed that the shooting was not related to goth subculture , and stated that the shooters held goth music in " contempt "
school shooting at Columbine High School
Columbine High School massacre
Toronto goth scene