DIXIE CHICKS - DIXIE CHICKS EMBRACE GAY FANS

The members of embattled country trio the DIXIE CHICKS have discovered they have legions of gay and lesbian fans after speaking out against US President GEORGE W BUSH at a 2003 concert in London. The girl group was targeted by patriotic Americans who were offended by singer NATALIE MAINES' comments about her shame that she came from the same state, Texas, as the US leader. But while the trio lost many country music fans, who staged record-stomping protests and banned the group from their radio stations, they gained a gay army of people who appreciated the outspoken stance the girls took - and then refused to back down. In an interview with America's leading gay magazine The Advocate, Maines says, "We do think we have more liberals and more gay men behind us. We have a gay hairdresser and gay make-up artist who are with us every single day, so they fill us in." And bandmate EMILY ROBISON admits she notices more lesbians at their shows, because they're normally smitten by bandmate and sister MARTIE MAGUIRE. Robison explains, "They're usually on Martie's side. We always tease her that she gets all the lesbians."