With her educated opinions, Otep is metal's answer to Courtney Love, before the Hollywood makeover, dramatic weight loss and an assortment of legal issues. "Courtney Love remains a musical hero to me but she might have gotten clouded as to what she brought as a woman and outspoken performer because of what happened with Kurt [Cobain]," Otep told Noisecreep.

Thanks to her role as a strong female in a male-dominated metal scene, Otep doesn't easily regard herself as a feminist. "If by being feminist, you mean equality for women and a disregard for stereotypes of male superiority, then yes, I consider myself that. People may profess to love all women, but the way we use language hints at a deep-rooted decree that women are the weaker species. The curse words we use to insult people have a female bend. You call someone a 'pussy' to deem the weak, when last I checked, vaginas are strong. They adapt. They push a baby out. They grow. All fetuses begin as a woman because all embryos follow a female template, which is why men have nipples. They serve one biological purpose, even though we have plenty other uses for them. Their main purpose is breastfeeding, which men can't do!"

Otep's outspoken nature has attracted attention from the right wingers. "Some conservatives have called me a 'nut,'" she laughed in her husky voice. "If I keep pissing off 'conservatards,' then I am doing my job." Otep also said if you want to see "sociology in action," head to your nearest Toys "R" Us. "If you walk down an aisle, you see that boys will have power books for solving problems, while girls have pink electronic dating books. It's strategy for boys and shopping sprees for girls. Some women are happy with that. I'm not."

Otep sounded off on President Obama's first five months in office, saying, "I think [the country] is absolutely taking a turn for the better. I don't agree with everything he has done, nor should I, as he has more citizens to consider than a lowly poet from Los Angeles. But his worst day is 100 times better than Bush's best day. Obama absorbs it all, like a student for life. That's important for a leader." As a gay woman, Otep does hope he takes a stronger position on "don't ask, don't tell" and other issues in the gay community.