Gay cable networks, satellite radio programs, podcasts and even Myspace.com are helping to give GLBT musicians the increased exposure that many of them deserve. But even without those outlets, queer musicians continue to produce music worth experiencing in any medium.

Roll over, Erasure, and tell Dangerous Muse the news: There’s another gay electro duo on the scene. The Divys, Cliff Hritz and William Schrul have combine their individual admiration for dance and rock music, resulting in a listener-friendly disc of new wave-influenced tunes on This Is What You Get (Thedivys.com). Already celebs in their hometown (their “Mirror Queen” functions as the theme song for the Philadelphia cable show “In Bed With Butch”), they sound like they are ready to break out on a larger scale.

If dancing is on the agenda, consider Santimanitay (Quango), the eagerly awaited sophomore full-length by Slowtrainsoul for the cool-down phase. Queer lead singer Lady Z is the very definition of sultry and somehow manages to lower the temperature a few degrees while still steaming up the windows. This is especially the case on “Mississippi Freestylin’,” “Sexing the Cherry,” “Ma Soucouyant” and “Eight in Nine.” If resting is overrated, cut loose on “Goldiggah,” “I Want You to Love Me,” “The City That Never Sleeps” and “Shine.”

Queer renaissance man Daniel Cartier is nothing if not persistent. He dabbles in the visual arts and film acting, and as a musician Cartier went from the subways of N.Y.C to a major label (Elton John’s Rocket Records) back to being a productive indie performer. You and Me Are We (Endurance), which has slightly less of the electronics of his previous disc, contains a number of terrific tunes, including “Great,” “Pretty Boy,” “Lay It On,” “The Doofus of Love” and a unique take on Gary Numan’s “Cars.”

Individually, Andrea Bunch and Aerin Tedesco have been working hard to make names for themselves. Together, the real-life couple has joined forces to become Congress of Starlings. Albedo (Egasage), the duo’s full-length debut, is the best of both (of their) worlds, in which lovely harmonies and timeless acoustic instrumentation dominate while elements of programming ground the whole project in the present, with an eye (and an ear) toward the future. Listen to “Killing Wage” as an example.

Chicago-based alternative-folk singer/songwriter Shelley Miller has once again teamed up with producer Tommi Zender for her second full-length disc, Morning Somewhere (Shelleymiller.net). Miller stays true to her contemporary folk roots but doesn’t hesitate to turn up the twang when necessary, as you can hear on “Hurricane” and the Lucinda Williams-esque “Rocking Chair.”

Perhaps the most prolific gay artist currently at work, Stephin Merritt was behind at least two discs in 2006, including Showtunes, a compilation of his theatrical collaborations. The other disc, The Tragic Treasury: Songs from a Series of Unfortunate Events (Nonesuch), is credited to The Gothic Archies, one of Merritt’s musical units (which also includes The Magnetic Fields, Future Bible Heroes and The 6ths). A musical match made in heaven, most of the songs originally appeared within the confines of the audio versions of Lemony Snicket books, from “The Bad Beginning” to “The End,” and having them under one cover, so to speak, is in itself a fortunate event.

“Zaka” a 2003 composition by 2005 Outmusic Award-winning composer Jennifer Higdon receives its world-premiere recording on Strange Imaginary Animals (Cedille) by contemporary music ensemble eighth blackbird. In fact, Strange Imaginary Animals also features the world-premiere recordings of “Violence” and “Evanescence” by Gordon Fitzell, “Friction Systems” by David M. Gordon and “Strange Imaginary Remix” by Dennis DeSantis, on which eighth blackbird gets downright funky. This is a splendid opportunity for listeners to greatly expand their musical horizons.

Speaking of the Outmusic Awards, mono-monikered 2005 recipient Adrianne has returned with the wonderful Sweet Mistake (Wheat). Of course, she’s not the only queer female making an impact. Former Sister Seven front-woman Patrice Pike is still rocking like nobody’s business on Unraveling (Tape Slap), while fellow award-winner Catie Curtis continues to bridge the gap between folk and pop with the greatest of ease on Long Night Moon (Compass).

In a community that is already considered to be alternative, there is any number of musicians pushing those boundaries even further. Che Arthur, for instance, is an out musician who plays guitar in the indie punk band Atombombpocketknife. On his second solo album, Iron (Sick Room), he demonstrates his skills in both the scream-o (“Veil”) and emo (the early solo Bob Mould-like “Bistrica”) realms. Boyskout, a queer female-fronted band from San Francisco, isn’t afraid to toss in a violin (“Apt. 2a”) when necessary on their second full-length disc, Another Life (Three Ring). That doesn’t mean they can’t kick ass, something they do on “Spotlight,” “Lobby Boys,” “Suicide” and “Happy Yet?,” among others.

Still slightly outnumbered by lesbians, gay male singer/songwriters are nevertheless doing what they can to make their presence felt. Recorded “at the end of the 20th century” in various locations, Live Shows (Chihuahua) is David Brown’s first new release since 1999’s Storm in a Teacup. If you have that disc, or Brown’s first, Splendid Wings, then you will surely recognize these songs in their concert renditions, which serves to give them a renewed energy. Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Dar Williams and Joni Mitchell, are among the sirens that Robert German thanks in the liner notes for his CD Sirens of Brooklyn (Pigeonhole). However, it is DiFranco who sounds as if she has had the most influence on this singer/songwriter. Award-winning singer/songwriter Terry Christopher returns with Journey of a Wordsmith (Terrychristopher.com), the follow-up to his well-received Take Another Look disc, on which he ventures into Santana territory on “This Will Not Be the Way” and more.

For those whose tastes run more toward the traditional but want something less experimental than eighth blackbird, take a listen to Here’s to the Heroes (Rhino) by The Ten Tenors. Living up to the one in 10 theory, Dion Molinas is the tenor who identifies as gay. With the inspiration of 20th century poets such as Cavafy, Crane, Frost, Merwin, Paz and Milosz, out neo-classical composer and pianist Luke Parkin has created the double-disc set Things I Didn’t Know I Loved (Lukeparkin.com).