Portland Lesbian Named "Coolest" in the U.K.!

What's cool? Beth Ditto knitting away in the video for the single, "Listen Up." That's cool.

This may not be surprising news for fans of The Gossip, but the kick-ass Portland, Oregon based band's lead singer (and out lesbian) Beth Ditto, has been ranked #1 on NME Magazine's "Cool List," which highlights all that rocks in the U.K.'s mad music culture in 2006.

I'm not going to argue. Beth Ditto is just about the most killer lead-singer in all of rock right now. Thank goodness folks are taking notice! Beth ranked higher on the list than such heavy-hitters as Thom Yorke, Cee-Lo, Jack & Meg White, Karen O, Lily Allen, Jay-Z, Brandon Flowers and Keith Richards.

Beth, and her Gossipy pals.

Score a big win for rock 'n' roll queers everywhere!