In a move that is infuriating many in the LGBT community singer-songwriter and LGBT homeless youth activist Cyndi Lauper has said that she WILL NOT cancel her upcoming performances in North Carolina after other artists have boycotted the state over the draconian anti-LGBT law that strips local anti-discrimination protections from LGBT citizens and discriminates against transgendered people saying she believes those affected “will need us there.”
Lauper joins fellow musicians Jimmy Buffet and Greg Allman in defying requests by LGBT activists and organizations to not appear in the state until the anti-LGBT law is repealed.
Buffett, said this week that he would play two scheduled shows in North Carolina despite the state’s “stupid” laws.
“These shows were booked and sold out long before the governor [Pat McCrory] signed that stupid law,” Buffett wrote in a blog post. “I am not going to let stupidity or bigotry trump fun for my loyal fans this year. We will be playing in Raleigh and Charlotte next week.”
Allman In a strongly worded Facebook statement, said that while the “discriminating” law is “infuriating,” he knows that “North Carolina is a state full of good folks and loyal fans, many of whom are angry about and feel misrepresented by this action.”
For over 45 years, I’ve been fortunate to play music all around this country and the world. I’ve been honored to know and be friends with many different people from all walks of life,” wrote the singer.
“Although we, as a nation, have made progress in many areas, it’s sad and infuriating that some, in 2016, are still working so hard to take the rights away from our brothers and sisters, as in the cases of ‘bathroom laws’ recently passed in North Carolina…and Mississippi…discriminating against the LGBT community.”
I truly wonder if Cyndi Lauper, Jimmy Buffet and Greg Allman knows that HB2 is more than just a “bathroom bill.”
“I’m not going to kiss ass with somebody like that…I felt that what he said about the gay community was disappointing because a lot of gay people work for him. It’s just sad. I thought he could have done better for his country than just go to the lowest common denominator and stir up the crap. It’s our country, it’s not wrestling. If you try and make our president fail, it doesn’t matter who he is, you make our country fail. And if you really are a patriot, if you really give a sh*t about our country, you don’t do stuff like that. First of all, you’re an entertainer, and you make ugly buildings, and you’re famous for it. And you have a reality show with very high ratings. Don’t step into the forum like that. Become educated with facts. Don’t just be a sh*t-stirrer. Our country is in trouble and he keeps wanting to make [Obama] fail. Let’s call a spade a spade. The guy’s a black man and that’s your issue? What kind of idiot are you? Come on.”
Cyndi Lauper never ceases to be f**king amazing awesome.
In some uplift your spirits and it’s good to think of helping others news, music icon Cyndi Lauper continues to be an outstanding advocate for LGBT causes. On December 8th, Lauper, along with other musical talents like Roberta Flack, Adam Lambert, and Sarah McLachlan will be performing for Lauper & Friends: Home For the Holidays that will benefit True Colors Fund’s Forty to None Project. The performances will be to help homeless LGBT youth.
Lauper expressed her dismay about the staggering number of homeless youth that do not receive the right amount of care and she’s working to change that:
“When I first learned that up to 40 percent of all homeless youth in this country identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender I was shocked and saddened. For far too long homeless youth have not received the attention, resources and funding necessary to bring an end to this epidemic. My hope is that through this inspiring evening of music and comedy we can raise awareness and much needed funds to help these young people through our newly launched Forty to None Project.”
Other performers such as Rosie O’Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg and Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen will also be lending a helping hand to the cause. What an amazing advocate Lauper continues to be.
Five years ago, on the Christopher Street Pier in New York City, my eyes were opened.I was doing a photo shoot for Interview magazine and thought it was important to include some gay and transgender youth to reflect my work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. My goal was to send a message of inclusion and acceptance, but what I realized after talking to these kids was just how different my vision was from what they had experienced in their own lives.
The youth on the pier that day told me story after story of exclusion, of rejection and of pain. As a mother, I can’t ever imagine throwing my child away. I can’t imagine kicking a kid out of my house. I can’t imagine rejecting a person who is, literally, a part of me.
But for the kids of the pier, that rejection wasn’t something unimaginable. It was their reality. Anybody can end up on the street. Homelessness knows nothing of age or race or gender. It can happen to anybody.But when statistics show that as many as 40% of the nation’s homeless youth are gay or transgender, compared to 3-5% of the overall youth population, we have to acknowledge that we’re facing a crisis. The disparity suggests that gay and transgender youth stand a much higher chance of becoming homeless because of abuse, neglect and familial rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity that drive them to the streets.The kids on the Christopher Street Pier that day, and the other gay and transgender youth living on the streets who make up the 40% have done nothing wrong, other than being born the way they were supposed to be. And because of who they are, these kids have been forced to leave their homes, subjected to abuse or worse.
Cyndi chose the name the Forty to None Project, because of with up to 1.6 million youth who are homeless each year, 40% identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Lauper wants that number to be “none”.
*Today on a very special episode of What’s “Too Gay” I am going to post reactions from people who actually give a damn about us and the wonderful ruling tfrom Judge Vaughn Walker striking down Prop 8. (So there will be NO hate groups in this post and NO Gay Inc Groups reactions from the likes of HRC, Equality California, NGLTF, or others who now praise this court case but originally did everything they could to stop it. We DO Remember.)
So let’s celebrate!
* Cyndi Lauper: “Gay and lesbian couples have long struggled for acceptance and the ability to marry the person they love and want to build a family with. Today’s landmark ruling declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional is a testament to the fundamentals on which this great country was built and validates that the discrimination gay couples face must come to an end. We as a society should be embracing these couples and helping them make the lifelong commitment to each other that many of us straight people take for granted each and every day. This decision is a major step in the right direction towards equality.
“Gay and lesbian couples have long struggled for acceptance and the ability to marry the person they love and want to build a family with. Today’s landmark ruling declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional is a testament to the fundamentals on which this great country was built and validates that the discrimination gay couples face must come to an end. We as a society should be embracing these couples and helping them make the lifelong commitment to each other that many of us straight people take for granted each and every day. This decision is a major step in the right direction towards equality.
* Kim Kardashian via Twitter: Prop 8 was struck down! This news is amazing!!!! Its about time! Congrats to everyone!
* Ellen DeGeneres: Today, California’s Proposition 8 was declared unconstitutional. When Prop 8 was passed two years ago, I said, “One day we will look back and realize how wrong this is.” Now, we’ve made a huge step forward. In today’s ruling, the court stated that Prop 8 “fails to advance any rational basis” for denying the right to marry, and the court is right. We’re all equal, and we should all have equal rights. I’m so grateful for today’s decision.
*Read MUCH more after the jump! – Kathy Griffin, Wil Wheaton, Christina Applegate, Michael Ian Black, Adam Lambert, Zachary Quinto, Shanna Moakler, Nancy Pelosi, more reactions and WATCH OUR HERO: Ted Olson’s Video Statement after the verdict! * Wil Wheaton: via Twitter: Congratulations to all my friends who can now get married again. It’s disgraceful that there’s even a question about your rights.
* Michael Ian Black: via Twitter: Finally I have somebody to blame for my disintegrating marriage. Thanks, gays! – How the hell am I going to explain to my wife about that dude I married? “I thought it didn’t count” won’t work now. (Tounge -in-cheek funny or just an idiot? Your call there)
*Christina Applegate: via Twitter: I am crying with absolute joy! Thank you thank you thank you for letting equality win. All men are created equal! Period!!!
* Kathy Griffin: “I am, of course, thrilled and heartened by Judge Walker’s ruling. My thoughts and best wishes are with the brave plaintiffs — Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo — on this emotional day. I also applaud the remarkable work of lead attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies; two men who, 10 years after facing off in Bush v. Gore, have teamed up to fight the good fight on behalf of loving California families. As we all know, the antigay movement is certain to appeal this landmark case to the ninth circuit U.S. court of appeals in San Francisco and, ultimately, to the United States Supreme Court in Washington. So, while today’s decision is a key victory in the fight for marriage equality, we still have a long way to go before my mother, Maggie, can break out her box of wine in celebration. I urge my friends and fans to stay strong, be vocal and take strength in the knowledge that we will be on the right side of history.”
Adam Lambert: “We’re gonna throw glitter on this barn tonight!!!”
Zachary Quinto: via Twitter: Dear california: you. better. work. (Oh yeah you’re not Gay. Come out already!)
Shanna Moakler: “This is so much bigger then marriage, it’s about wisdom, compassion and knowing we CAN be heard, action DOES make a difference!”
Armistead Maupin: This battle has always been about love, and love won out today. When I was in law school, I was bored to distraction by the sight of a legal transcript. This one read like sonnet.”
Nancy Pelosi: “I am extremely encouraged by the ruling today, which found that Proposition 8 violated both the due process and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Proposition 8 has taken away individual rights and freedoms, and is a stain upon the California Constitution. We must continue to fight against discriminatory marriage amendments and work toward the day when all American families are treated equally.” (Um Nancy. You have the power to take on DOMA you know.
The White House: “The president has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans. (Thats it? Meeeh.)
Cyndi Lauper appeared on Canada’s LGBT program XTRA and talks about herself, her music, her gay fans and has no problem speaking out on isubjects like Evangelism, and the Bush and Cheney Administration.
“The past – this year’s getting a little better, but the past eight years, it was so dark. [I]t was like a fire sale, just before Obama came in … And then this guy goes in and it’s ‘his fault.’ But it’s not his fault – it’s the other two. The criminals that never got charged. I can’t say enough how upsetting that was. I can’t. And the way he would go on television – that George Bush, and speak hate. I mean, just unabashed hatred.”
I LOVE THIS WOMAN! And its awesome that Cyndi doesn’t give a fuck about what people think! She is truly amazing! I wish there was more celebrities out there as outspoken and great as Cyndi is.
The woman has balls and really does care for the LGBT Community.
An estimated ONE MILLION people attended the annual pride parade in downtown Toronto on Sunday making it the largest Pride Celebration in North America
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke marched in memory of his son, Brendan, who died in a car crash earlier this year. Before he died, Brendan made headlines for coming out and fighting for tolerance in professional sports. Marilyn Byers was marching to support her gay son.
“Some people say, ‘Why do you need this?’” Byers said. “We don’t need it but we want it because it’s a celebration of who we are, both gay, straight, everybody is here.”
Canada became the third country legalizing same-sex marriage in 2006 and six couples got married in front of the crowds on their float thanks to mancrunch.com — a same-sex online dating service that helps people find their perfect match.
Georgi Georgi and Brenda Lehman could barely contain their excitement as they waited in line to wed.
“I’m on top of the world,” Georgi said, before her bride to be called it a, “dream come true.”
Toronto’s Pride festivities have grown since their beginnings as a 1981 street demonstration opposing police raids of bathhouses, with wider community acceptance growing as well.
Sunday’s parade followed Saturday’s Dyke March, which was capped off with an evening performance at Queen’s Park by eighties pop singer Cyndi Lauper.
Could someone from Canada PLEASE sponsor me so I can immigrate? I WANT TO BE YOU!
“Our source tells us that people close to Paquin, who were at the shoot, did not know she was going to make the statement, and it was a surprise to them. ing they ‘Give A Damn’ about equality as they too publicly declare their sexuality, be it straight, gay or bisexual. The True Colors Fund is the non-profit arm of the True Colors Tour. Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper, the organization, according to it’s website, is dedicated ‘to inspire and engage everyone, particularly the straight community, to become active participants in the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) equality and ensure a strong and vibrant LGBT community.'”
