Cyndi Lauper Shows True Colors With Gay-Friendly Tour

Longtime singer and theater actress Cyndi Lauper has always been cherished by the gay community. Her 1986 album, True Colors, featured a slew of songs that resonated with many youths struggling to come to terms with their sexuality.

When she's not performing for adoring crowds, Lauper is doing her part to better the world as a gay rights advocate. Case in point: the 53-year-old will be one of the headliners for a brand new True Colors tour, in an effort to raise awareness about homosexual rights (or lack thereof).

According to the Associated Press as relayed by the Washington Post, she had this to say about it: " A lot of people were saying that when it came out they were teenagers and they were coming out. They were disowned by their family and their friends and their jobs got all messed up and they were totally alone, and suicidal, and then they heard `True Colors' and it made them feel hopeful."

The 15-city voyage for civil rights begins June 8 in Las Vegas and concludes June 30 in Los Angeles. Other headliners will include such notable performers as Blondie sensation Deborah Harry, the brit-pop duo Erasure and comedian Margaret Cho.

In looking forward to the impact the tour can have, Lauper said, " This tour is basically gonna be five hours of some of my favorite bands and me, and Margaret Cho making us laugh, and while we're touring, we're going to be raising awareness." The star added, "I think people don't know what's going on, that's all."

MTV Networks Channel is sponsoring the tour in hopes of garnering in gay audiences. It will supply information to fans who attend and offer purple wristbands with the slogan ingrained “Erase Hate” from the Matthew Shepard organization, which is named after a young man murdered in what appeared to be a hate crime. For every ticket sold, one dollar will be sent to the Human Rights Campaign, an organization dedicated to equal rights for homosexual, bisexual and transgendered people.

I know what you're thinking--if Lauper loves gays so much, then why doesn't she marry them? Well, besides the fact she's not homosexual herself and that gay people (generally) can't get married anyway, she merely feels more Americans would support gay rights if they understood the discrimination gays face: "You shouldn't have to be treated badly because of your sexual orientation. Come on, we don't live in a dictatorship. This is supposed to be America, the home of the free and the brave. It can't be free for some and not for others" the star opined.

For those who wish to go for the music alone, it will certainly be in no short supply. In addition to Lauper and Harry, Rufus Wainwright is on tap to play in some of the various cities the tour hits. "Every time I talk to a band, they're like, `I want to go!' " Lauper gleefully exclaimed.

Some of the other cities on deck for the True Colors tour are Denver, Salt Lake City, Washington, Boston, Atlantic City, New York, Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Diego and San Francisco.

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