Although some may wonder why she didn't just use the word "bisexual," Hawkins eschews the term because "it sounds dry, and boring, and like you have to make a choice all the time." She’s also frustrated with the persistent stereotype that bisexual women can’t make up their mind. "I have no problem being with a woman, and I have no problem being with a man. And I do one at a time. I hate the word bisexuality for what it implies, socially and politically."

So when she was asked in an early-90s interview with the New York Times whether she was a lesbian, she decided to use the word "omnisexual," which she had made up on the spot. At the time, she was in an 8-year relationship with a man (she is currently in a relationship with a woman, whom she has been with for the past 10 years), but she knew she had always been attracted to both men and women. "When I was 9 years old, I was in love with this boy and his mother, who looked like Anne Bancroft in The Graduate, at the same time, for different reasons. And it was then I just knew."

Her openness about her sexuality hasn't always gone over well with her lesbian friends, although this hasn't dampened Hawkins enthusiasm for them, whose contributions to humanity she describes as "underrated."

"I was always very drawn to strong women and creative women, I was a drummer in their band," she says of her early days as a performer with lesbian bands, "but because I lived with a man, they wouldn’t let me play certain clubs and they criticized me. But I totally understood 'the life,' partly because my mother’s a lesbian. I grew up around my mother’s friends, who were lesbians and the most fantastic women you’ll ever meet in your life, and they were all outcasts." Consequently, she finds many of her strongest connections are with older lesbians.

Hawkins remains philosophical about the controversy over her use of the word "omnisexual," saying "I think I’ve often done things that are a little bit ahead of the climate." Citing the use of the word by the director of the Oscar-winning film The Hours to describe Virginia Woolf a few years ago, Hawkins believes "it’s become a word people can identify with, which is very, very encouraging." More importantly, she believes, is the fact that more and more people are becoming comfortable with the concept of attraction to both genders, regardless of what it's called.

But what about the music industry, has that changed much? "I think it’s the same, really," she says skeptically. "It’s still run by men, it’s still misogynistic, it’s still a male-dominated industry." If being an openly gay or bisexual artist is more accepted in the industry, she believes it's only because that can sell more records.

Hawkins believes she has changed primarily by becoming more accepting. "I think the thing experience does give you is that overview. On your second record you were embarrassed about your first record, and on your third record you were embarrassed by your second record, and by your fourth record, you’re not embarrassed about anything, you’re just grateful you’re still writing and recording."

"I’ve made the choices I have to be the best artist I can be," she reflects, "and that’s not always hand-in-hand with success and popularity. I always knew that, but sometimes I kick myself and think 'God, you were just right in that place, you could have done this or that."

"But that’s usually at four in the morning when I’m not in my right mind," she adds with laugh.

A little popular exposure now and then can be a good thing, though, and that's one of the reasons Hawkins has agreed to perform on Hit Me Baby, One More Time. "I did it to sing in front of 20 million people," she says. "If people tuning in like me, they’re going to be more apt to come see me if I’m in town, or check out what I'm doing. You can’t buy publicity like that." Especially when you're producing and financing your own music.

Finally, what does Hawkins think about the fact that the song that was once so controversial is now considered fit for primetime network television? "Symbolically, it’s good," says Hawkins.

Visit SophieBHawkins.com for tour dates and more info;
Hit Me Baby, One More Time airs on NBC this Thursday, June 16 at 8pm.