Pansy Division has two ways to get revenge — happiness and humor.

Three years ago, the band was invited to open for Green Day on the ever-popular “Dookie Tour.” During one particular show in Detroit, the openly-queer band was met by chants of “Fuck you” by the majority of the crowd.

Singer/guitarist Jon Ginoli and singer/bassist Chris Freeman responded by asking, “How many girls in the crowd think guys can be assholes?”

After a roar from the female audience, Freeman responded, “if these guys are homophobic, they are probably sexist. Don’t procreate,” he joked.

Freeman has a motto in dealing with situations similar to the Detroit show — “Happiness is the best revenge,” he said from a hotel phone in Omaha.

And if happiness doesn’t work, there’s always humor.

“If there is someone in the crowd who has had too many beers and is straight and having a hard time dealing with us, you have to get them out before there’s trouble,” Freeman said. “But you have to do it with humor. You have to shame the people into leaving.”

In Pansy Division’s estimated 575 shows, only a handful have been troublesome, a couple of which nearly resulted in Freeman and Ginoli getting arrested.

“We used to be known for possibly taking off our clothes,” Freeman said. “But we pretty much dropped that gimmick. Our show used to be a lot crazier.”

If Pansy Division has mellowed out on stage, the band has more than made up for it in the studio with singles such as “For Those About To Suck Cock, We Salute You,” “Jack U Off,” “Nine Inch Males” and “Queer To The Core.”

Pansy Division’s first single, 1992’s “Smells Like Queer Spirit,” propelled the band to indie-rock stardom and a record contract with Lookout Records.

The band is currently supporting its fifth full-length release, “More Lovin’ From Our Oven,” which includes unreleased versions of past singles and rare demos.

“I like to say we deal with human situations from a gay perspective,” Freeman said. “Even if you are not gay, you can still see how they pertain to you. I’ve been listening to heterosexual songs for years and I still find something to understand in them.”

Freeman admits Pansy Division often deals with gay issues using humor — even to the point of poking fun at themselves.

“Someone may hear the name Pansy Division and immediately they are turned away,” Freeman explained. “But the minute you get people to start laughing, that is when you start breaking down barriers.”

Although the band is often tossed into the punk genre, Freeman describes Pansy Division’s sound as pop that is fast and short and punk inspired. “Gay Beatles on amphetamines,” he added.

“We rely huge on the catch-factor. Our goal is for the choruses to get stuck in your head and come out when you’re at the grocery store.”

One thing Pansy Division songs are not is sad, partially because Freeman believes there are too many sad songs in the world already.

“I like music that makes you feel great,” he said. “Being gay, people are out to tell you that you are not going to have a happy life. They tell you to feel bad for yourself. But we’re showing you that you can be gay and be happy.”

Pansy Division will be playing an all-ages show at The Maintenance Shop tonight at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5, $4 for students and will be available at the door.