All-trans bands are growing ever-hotter on the queer music scene. Can the T-girl phenomenon cross over to straight audiences?

Shawna: I sure hope so. It seems to be the same situation where it's acceptable to be straight or gay, but bisexuality is much less accepted, and being transgendered is even less accepted by mainstream folks. Seems like that same attitude applies to music audiences. It would be so cool if Lipstick could be part of changing all that.

Politics

Lipstick Conspiracy has been politically active in San Francisco. How do your politics affect your music?

Shawna: Oh, my politics don’t extend much further than "fair trade" coffee. I sing about what’s close to my heart: love, being happy while dealing with being trans, relationships, careers etc.