Cyndi Lauper Shows Her True Colors

If nary a word was ever written about Cyndi Lauper again, the last few should read: Like a rainbow stretched across a sun-drenched sky, this pint-sized peacock proudly displayed her true colors.

From her ever-hip hair, to those one-of-a-kind duds, to songs that capture the essence of a laissez-faire era long gone, Lauper represents what many of wish we could be free. Free of restrictions. Free of conditions. Free of oppression.

That's a lot to ask, considering the social and political woes that currently stifle the gay community, but Lauper believes it's possible.

And for the first time ever, it actually is.

Conceived by Lauper--and stemming from her desire to give back to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community for the love and support they've given her throughout her career--the inaugural True Colors Tour will kick off Gay & Lesbian Pride Month on June 8 at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. Presented by MTV's Logo Network, each concert in this 15-city tour will feature five hours of nonstop music from artists such as Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip, The Misshapes and, yes, Cyndi Lauper herself.

"I've wanted to do this tour for the past five years," says Lauper about the True Colors Tour, which borrows its title from her chart-topping 1986 single and album of the same name. "About ten years ago, I started to get a lot of letters and e-mails from my gay fans about how much the song meant to them, and the support it gave them during difficult times. People were dealing with everything from HIV to coming out, and the song gave them strength."

Benefiting, in part, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the True Colors Tour aims to bring together Americans from across the country to show their solidarity against discrimination and to raise public awareness about the issues facing the GLBT community. One dollar of every ticket sold will support the work of the HRC.

Lauper says the HRC deserves a portion of the ticket sales "because the work it does is really important; it's a national organization working at a national level to protect the GLBT community."

By attending, concertgoers will also have an opportunity to learn more about Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

"The Matthew Shepard Foundation is honored to have been invited to take part in the True Colors Tour," says Judy Shepard, whose gay son, Matthew, was fatally beaten in Laramie, Wyo., in 1998. "Music is such a powerful tool to help erase hate and educate people about the values of diversity, respect, and equality. I commend Cyndi and all the artists involved for stepping up and using their extraordinary talents to help make this world a better place for us."

Recent reports suggest that Judy Shepard will make an appearance at the New York City show.

In addition to the static lineup, special guests will appear on select dates throughout the tour, including Rufus Wainwright, Rosie O'Donnell, Indigo Girls, and Jeffree Star, with additional guests to be announced.

The Cliks, a female rock foursome from Toronto who will also perform at select shows, are beside themselves to be asked to join the True Colors Tour.

"We're honored, exited, and giddy to be put on a bill of artists of that caliber," says Lucas Silveira, the group's transgender front man.

Comedienne Margaret Cho will host the groundbreaking program, which will travel to venues near Chicago, Washington, Baltimore, Houston, Boston, Toronto, and Los Angeles, among several other major cities.

"I am thrilled to be part of this tour because I'm about as colorful and queer as it gets," Cho quips. "Who else is going to keep all those queens in line?"

A celebration of the basic values and freedoms that should be shared by all Americans, the True Colors Tours hopes to continue chipping away at the divide between diversity and discrimination.

And what better way to start skipping down the pink path of possibility than with the girl who just wants to have fun?

"I hope in some small part this tour will educate people," Lauper says. "If more people are aware of the injustices that are being put forth against the community, it will help.

"This tour isn't just for gay people," she continues. "It's for everyone, and it's about lifting a straight or gay person out of their apathy to speak up and fight for equal rights. It's just as much for families and friends of gay people to become aware and to take action to force change."

www.truecolorstour.com