Beth Ditto Hot & Rockin!

My favorite Queer woman of rock Beth Ditto is featured in this months Spin magazine in an interview that shows how fab she really is, I just love her!

Do you find it at all marginalizing to be on Music With a Twist, a Columbia subsidiary for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender artists?
No, I love being on a queer label. You're sitting in a room with a group of people who have all the same reference points as you, you don't have to explain anything about your identity to them, and people aren't like, "What's a tranny?" It's not about integration versus segregation; it's just a way to get the music out there.

You've said that you think being a bigger, gay woman might have held the band back from mainstream success, but do you think it's also worked to your advantage?
I never would say that it worked to our advantage, but I think it's a breath of fresh air for a lot of people. And you gotta play the game. If you can work it, then you work it no matter what. And talent transcends all those things.

You have been known to strip onstage during live shows. Isn't there a danger that it will attract exactly the kind of attention that female musicians want to avoid?
I have a lot of things to say about that, and one of them is that it's important that the body becomes a normal thing. I don't think the rules are the same for me as they were for Courtney Love or [Bikini Kill/Le Tigre frontwoman] Kathleen Hanna, because I don't think my body was accepted in the same way. In the beginning, people were really uncomfortable with a big girl, so it was a radical political statement; and it's even more radical to not be objectified with your clothes off. Also, onstage, it's so hot we're dying. It just feels nice sometimes.

Mary J. Blige Friend Of The Gays!

Mary J. Blige sat down for a interview with the Advocate about her new album Growing Pains and her feelings on gay issues.

"The majority of my fans are gay," she tells writer Ernest Hardy. "The majority of them are, and I have to really make sure that they know I’m paying attention to the fact that they support me, and I support them."

"The real hip-hop, the real people don’t even care about that. They’ll love you and accept you no matter what because they know who they are. There are a lot of people trying to figure out who they are and what they’re gonna be. There’s a lot of confusion in that. Confusion causes a lack of identity. I’ve heard a couple of guys say foul things, and those guys are not around me anymore because when they say things like that, I’m looking at them like, What makes you so scared? You don’t know who you are? I guess it all boils down to them not being sure about themselves and what they wanna do, whoever that is. I won’t say any names. And I don’t dislike them or anything—it just makes me wonder about them period. ’Cause if you’re not sure about that, then you ain’t sure about a lotta things!"

Ellen's Really Big Show Snack Requirements

Ellen talked to Entertainment Weekly about how to prepare for watching her really big variety show tonight at 9 on TBS.

What about snacks?
I would steer clear of food. There's a possibility of choking, because of all the laughing you'll be doing. If anything, a pudding -- some time of bread pudding, or a rice pudding.

What are some things viewers at home can do to prepare for a show of such Massive Proportions?
Well, you want to wear loose-fitting clothing. Like a sweat type of pant, or pajamas. I would not wear anything tight, and I would try to stretch out. If you have a lounge chair, some kind of a chaise lounge, or some pillows -- ooh, or maybe a bean bag chair would really be the best thing to handle all the laughing. You'll be able to lean forward for a belly laugh, then stretch backwards with the ''Ohhhhh!" –- you know what I mean?