The New Gay: TNG Flashback: Queer Music Dilemma

The work day is almost over. We hope you use your last ounce of concentration to revisit this year-old TNG article. Originally published by Michael on 2/29/2008

It's not so often, or ever even, that we cite Perez Hilton here at TNG. We tend to avoid being super gaga over celebrity gossip. Or if we can't avoid it, we keep it to ourselves. So it's with great trepidation that I mention the following: Perez Hilton reported that JD Sampson (hot butch lesbian rock star from Le Tigre) is dating Sia (newly out lesbian singer). Supposedly Perez has his sources. Well, I have mine, too. It turns out that both Sia and JD's new project, MEN, are going to be playing in DC on the same night. Yes, that's right. Friday, March 7th. Sia is at the 930 club with Har Mar Superstar, and MEN (a DJ/mash-up project by JD and Jo from Le Tigre) will be opening for Hey Willpower! at the Black Cat. It's like a queer phonic eclipse!!!

How do we know these rumors are true? Well, I had our TNG intern sleep with a few publicists to dig up the tour schedules of both bands, and the results are... revealing.

day	date	MEN city	Sia city
Thu	2/28/08	Chicago, IL
Fri	2/29/08	Cleveland, OH	Chicago, IL
Sat	3/1/08	Toronto, ON	Detroit, MI
Sun	3/2/08	Montreal, QC
Mon	3/3/08	Allston, MA	Toronto, ON
Tue	3/4/08	Philadelphia, PA	Montreal, QC
Wed	3/5/08		Boston, MA
Thu	3/6/08	Brooklyn, NY
Fri	3/7/08	Washington, DC	Washington, DC
Sat	3/8/08	Chapel Hill, NC	New York, NY
Sun	3/9/08	Mount Pleasant, SC
Mon	3/10/08	Atlanta, GA	Atlanta, GA
Tue	3/11/08	New Orleans, LA	New Orleans, LA

So, it appears that they are only sharing three tour dates in the coming weeks: our DC show, and two other shows in the deep south. But if you look more closely, they are actually following each other around the continent. Sia arrives in Chicago the day after JD's show. (Can you say "breakfast in bed?") Sia visits Toronto and Montreal only days after JD and co. rock out our neighbors to the north.

I'd have to say the above schedule is a good indication that they are in fact dating. The likelihood of them randomly having tour dates in common would be pretty small. Just the fact that they're on tour at the same time suggests something.

So, good for them. I've always wondered by celebrities always end up dating one another. Normally, it just annoys me. Bennifer, Branjolina, BARF!!! But when hot homo rock stars date each other, that's when it gets juicy. Might I propose JDia™? (You heard it here first, girls and boys.)

You already know that I think queer people should listen to and support queer musicians. So now, the real question. Which show do I go to? Honestly, I can't say I've heard any of Sia's music. Ever. Not a single syllable. She's playing with Har Mar Superstar (not cute!), who I've also never heard anything by. Those issues can be resolved between now and then, I guess. As for MEN, I'm not even sure what their act entails. It's a DJ set opening for Hey Willpower!, who is gay and kinda cute. I heard a few MEN tracks on their website but didn't really spend a lot of effort listening to it. I guess I have my homework for the next week.

What do you think? What will you be doing on Friday, March 7th?

MEN DJ Set Video: