REIMAGINING A SOLMN CEREMONY: HAVING GOTH GIRLS AS BLACK ROSES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

With the reimaginings of Confederate History running rampant all over the U.S., one unique and beautiful service has fallen under attack. Talks of "reimagining to modernize and diversify" the Black Rose service which is the intellectual property and a signature trademark of the Texas Society Order of Confederate Rose, Inc. have been brought to light. Earlier this year, a post on an SCV Camp in Texas posted on their social media "Y'llthem alternative goth girls sure would make great Confederate Rose!!! I mean, they already hang out in cemeteries.". This issue has sparked outrage and offense to BOTH the ladies and gentlemen of the TSOCR. That single post was viewed by thousands of social media spectators and shared by other Confederate pages in Ohio and North Carolina. Since then, individuals of a camp that will not be named have attempted repeatedly to persuade the TSOCR to allow goth girls to be inducted into their memebrship.

REGISTERED TRADEMARKS: "Black Rose", "Texas Society Black Rose Handbook", "Black Rose Serive", Logos of the Texas Society Order of Confederate Rose, Inc., Chapters, Chapter Logos, and other related items remain the intellectual creations & property and are registered trademarks in the State of Texas of the TSOCR, Inc. These trademarks were originally filed with the Office of the Secretary of the State of Texas in 2018 by the TOSCR Board of Directors, and as of this article are active and valid. No other organization is permitted to duplicate or perform any part or whole of the "Black Rose Serice" by any other heritage organization or SCV Camp Ladies Auxiliary group.

TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT: Texas law provides a statutory cause of action for infringing upon a registered mark. It is a crime to counterfeit registered marks. Unauthorized use of the marks is trademark infringement. Any production or sale of unauthorized products or services is a violation of the Federal Lanham Trademark Act of 1946, the Federal Trademark Act of 1984, and the State of Texas infringement and unfair competition laws, among others. Facing fines ranging from $750 to $30,000 for each piece of work that was infringed. Dealing with civil penalties can go up to $150,000 per instance if the infringement was on purpose. Facing criminal penalties, which may mean fines of up to $250,000 and up to five years in jail for each offense. Criminal charges can range from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class B Felony depending on the circumstances and intent of the accused.

TSOCR BLACK ROSES: The Texas Society of the Black Rose is a volunteer order to perpetuate the persona of a War Between the States widow, and widower and to accompany them at SCV and other approved Confederate functions, memorial services, and grave dedications. The requirements of being a Black Rose are as follows:

1. Be a member in good standing with the TSOCR.

2. Complete a Black Rose application, and return it to the TSOCR Chapter President.

3. Black Roses must have a Period Correct Mourning attire that must be approved by a TSOCR Chapter President as detailed in the TSOCR Black Rose handbook.

4. Read the TSOCR Black Rose handbook. TSOCR BLACK ROSE MOURNING ATTIRE: The TSOCR Black Rose handbook gives very detailed specifics that must be followed for any TOSCR member to become a Black Rose. This includes the exact details of the period-correct attire on a lady's blouse, skirt, dress, hat, veil, gloves, undergarments, appropriate jewelry, belts, hairstyles, make-up, and even boots and shoes. As well as the conduct of a Black Rose during a service, placing a memorial wreath, laying a rose on a Confederate Heros' grave, and the order of procession. The details are too lengthy to describe here, please see the TSOCR website for the Black Rose Handbook for the full information.

ISSUES WITH GOTH FASHION: Vogue magazine describes Goth as a subculture within the metal genre of music dating back to the United Kingdom in the 1980s. It was developed by fans of gothic rock, an offshoot of the post-punk music genre. Post-punk artists who presaged the gothic rock genre and helped develop and shape the subculture include Ozzy Osbourne, Slipknot, Ramstein, and others. Gothic fashion is marked by conspicuously dark, antiquated, and homogeneous features. It is stereotyped as eerie, mysterious, complex, and exotic. A dark, sometimes morbid fashion and style of dress, typical gothic fashion includes colored black hair and black period-styled clothing. Both male and female goths can wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernail polish, most especially black. Styles are often borrowed from punk fashion and—more currently—from the Victorian and Elizabethan periods. It also frequently expresses pagan, occult, or other religious imagery. Gothic fashion and styling may also feature silver jewelry and piercings.

More modern goth fashion has taken a dramatic turn in the early 21st century. Both male and female goth opt for the ripped black jeans with fishnet stockings underneath. Tight fighting shirts that accentuate the body's physical features and are worn with fishnet undershirts with long sleeves. Some goth males will only wear fishnet undershirts of various sleeve lengths with exposed areola piercings and pagan, occult, or other religious imagery tattoos. Black boots with a raised platform of two to three inches are favored among goths. Female goths will wear ripped or damaged dark denim shirts that have a length of three to five inches.

CONFLICTING ATTIRE: As stated in one of our previous BLOGS "SEPARATING FACTS FROM FANTASY ON LIVING HISTORY ATTIRE", Texas Society Order of Confederate Rose™, Inc. has strict rules and guidelines into what is accepted into their period-correct mourning attire and their conduct into portraying a specific historical figure for a ceremony. Many members of both the SCV and the TSOCR would consider goth attire as a form of cosplay and unacceptable at any living history event or memorial.

CAN THERE BE A GOTH TSOCR CHAPTER? The answer is no for several reasons. First, TSOCR bylaws only allow one OCR Chapter per city/town in Texas. If a chapter already exists the BOD will not approve the formation of a second rose chapter to be formed where one currently is active. Second, goth attire is in direct conflict with the TSOCR Black Rose Handbook. A Chapter President of the TSOCR will never approve any form of goth attire as a Black Rose. Third, the Black Rose service is a registered trademark and the intellectual property of the TSOCR. Finally, the TSOCR and its chapters are a separate heritage organization and are autonomous from the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The Chapter Presidents and the Board of Directors are free to deny an endorsement of membership that does not meet the guidelines or conduct that is expected.

IN CONCLUSION: To attempt ”reimagining to modernize and diversify" an independent and autonomous organization when one is not even a member shows they have no understanding of its purpose. With the current political and social pressures on the reimagining of Texas and Confederate history, we do not need the reimagining of our history, and ceremonies, and have an erosion of our values. It is difficult to have cooperation and open communication between organizations when an individual ignores the rules of their heritage group and attempts to circumvent another. To be called "petty for striving for conformity and not harmony", when an individual's conduct is repeatedly called into question. It detracts from their honor and the organization he represents.

THE SCV Hood's Texas Brigade, Camp 153 has members who are Lifetime Members of the TSOCR who serve as Gentlemen Grey that escort the TSOCR Black Roses at approved memorial services and other related events. We fully support the TSOCR and all of its efforts to support the SCV.