Throughout the years Cyndi Lauper has supported many causes, especially the gay, lesbian and transgender community. Below you will find some articles and links associated with these organisations.

GIVE A DAMN CAMPAIGN



ABOUT:

The Give a Damn Campaign is for everybody who cares about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

But, it’s especially for all you straight people out there! Whether you’re already an active supporter, want to show your support for the first time, or hadn’t given equality a lot of thought before and now want to learn more, we are here to help you get informed about the issues and get involved, at a pace that works for you.

You’ll find a lot of useful information throughout this site—information that’ll engage you, surprise you and move you. You will also find a bunch of ways to get involved and show your support and encourage your straight peers to show theirs as well.

For all you gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks—we need and want you here, too! Because this site is also for you. Not only will you learn new things that might surprise and interest you, you’ll also find a lot of useful tools and resources that will help you encourage the straight people in your life to give a damn.

Like we said, the Give a Damn Campaign is for everyone. Because the only way we can truly achieve equality for all is if we all get informed and get involved. So join us today and let us know you give a damn!

HOW TO USE GIVE A DAMN

There’s a lot to see and do on this site, and you really can’t go wrong starting anywhere… but we suggest you begin by reviewing the damn issues. Then move onto the damn videos and personal stories sections. When you’re done there, jump on over to the damn blog (it’s updated throughout each day). We also urge you to download some damn stuff.

Whatever you read, see or find here that you think is interesting, share it with the people in your life! We have made it easy to do, from using our tell-a-friend feature to being able to post to your social networking pages, like Twitter and Facebook.

But the easiest thing you can do is take 30 seconds to join the campaign. It’ll let us personalize the site for you and keep you updated on the latest news and ways to get involved, through things like our monthly e-newsletter.

The Give a Damn Campaign is the place to stay informed and stay involved about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. So be sure to visit us often—in fact, bookmark us right now—because we’re going to have new stuff on here all the time.

So go ahead: Get Informed. Get Involved. Give a Damn!

WHO IS BEHIND GIVE A DAMN?

The Give a Damn Campaign is a project of the True Colors Fund, founded by Cyndi Lauper. The True Colors Fund works to inspire and engage everyone, especially the straight community, to get involved in the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

As an advocate for more than 25 years, Cyndi has worked to bring her straight peers on board in support of equality. As she says, “If one us is not equal, none of us are.”


VIVA GLAM!

Established in 1994 to support men, women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally, VIVA GLAM I, II, III, IV, V and VI, were launched as continuous shades and have achieved tremendous success over the years. Spring 2010 sees two new VIVA GLAM shades introduced as limited life for 12 months on counter. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the sensational Cyndi Lauper and the electric Lady Gaga! Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS. CYNDI LAUPER: Lauded, loved, copied, passionately acclaimed, the idol of all those for whom a quirky idiosyncrasy in makeup, hair, or style may say it all, this uber-talented performer has never been a copycat, always been a muse. A singer/songwriter, Lauper characteristically uses her fame as a performer to help make her message heard. Whether touring the country to assist food banks or helming the True Colors Fund, which lobbies for GLBT equality, Lauper stands for what she believes in and, when it comes to HIV/AIDS, that’s safe sex. With the launch of VIVA GLAM Cyndi, she looks forward to helping support women who have contracted HIV/AIDS through rape. LADY GAGA: A true superstar, Lady’s Gaga’s shock-art approach to performance turns our heads and makes us all go gaga. An enfant terrible who grew up singing Cyndi Lauper songs, performing was in her DNA. By her teens, she was singing self-penned electro pop in New York’s Lower East Side. Today, aided by hit records, headpieces and countless accolades, her worldwide breakthrough has brought her well-deserved notoriety, but also the ability to cock our ears. A legend in her own time whose shock value now comes with a couture tag, she jokes about “changing the world one sequin at a time.” With the launch of VIVA GLAM Gaga, that could be one shade at a time. Her take on HIV/AIDS prevention: Be selective about those you love.

TRUE COLORS FUND

The True Colors Fund main aim is to strengthen gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied community by growing the number of volunteers and donors to the non-profit organisations working on their behalf at the national, state and local levels. The fund is currently implementing a public awareness and education program. To find out more visit >>>

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TRUE COLORS RESIDENCE



West End is more than a housing facility. IT IS A COMMUNITY!

"In New York City, a very disproportionate number (up to 40%), of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Even more disturbing are reports that these young people often face discrimination and at times physical assault in some of the very places they have to go to for help. This is shocking and inexcusable!

That's why my manager, Lisa Barbaris and I are collaborating with Colleen Jackson and West End Intergenerational Residence to create the True Colors Residence, (TCR), a permanent supportive housing program for homeless LGBT youth 18-24 years old.

We'll be building it from the ground up so our residents will have a brand new, modern building with studio apartments for each resident and both indoor and outdoor community space to socialize or attend education and recreation programs. Each resident will be responsible for paying affordable rent based on their income and will receive ongoing assistance in obtaining employment best suited to their individual interests and skills. Although TCR will not require participation in its programs, a variety of social and educational support services will be available to all who request them. Our primary goal is to provide a physically and emotionally safe and supportive environment that will empower our young residents to be the self-loving, happy, and successful individuals they were meant to be. As longtime supporters, Lisa and I know that West End has been a trailblazing forward-thinking organization that is willing to do whatever is necessary to serve those in need. Their services have, in our experience, always met the highest standards. I am now very excited to report that the True Colors Residence Housing Development Fund Corporation was officially incorporated July 21, 2008 and the property acquisition closing took place on July 31st. To view a larger rendering of the residence from the image above, click here. (Please note: the colors are only meant for representational purposes to define the different components of the building. They may appear much brighter and have a different hue on your monitor than on the printed copy of the rendering).

I am proud to work with Colleen and West End on such an exciting and important project as the True Colors Residence and I ask for your support as we move forward."   Cyndi Lauper, 2008.

You can learn more and keep updated on the Residence by visiting the West End's Web site:




TRUE COLORS TOUR

The tour will feature five hours of non-stop music and entertainment by headliners Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, and exciting special guests in select cities including Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara, Regina Spektor, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joan Armatrading, Nona Hendryx, Deborah Cox, The Cliks , and many more.



Hosted by Carson Kressley, the tour will visit 24 cities across the United States and Canada from May 31st to July 5th.

The True Colors Tour was conceived by Cyndi Lauper stemming from her desire to give back to the LGBT community for the love and support they have given her throughout her career. The True Colors Tour is a celebration of the basic values and freedoms that should be shared by all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Attendees will experience these values through the music of both legendary icons and the newest and coolest acts this generation has to offer.

This year's tour will highlight the need for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their straight allies to get out and make their votes count this fall. HRC and this year's other non-profit partners - CenterLink (the nation's LGBT community centers) and Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National - are joining with the True Colors Tour to bring together Americans across the country to voice their solidarity for LGBT equality and raise public awareness about the issues that face the LGBT community.

Produced by True Colors Concerts in partnership once again with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the 24 city North American tour is presented by Logo in support of the newly created True Colors Fund of Stonewall Community Foundation.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to join in the celebration.

With recent news that the True Colors Tour will be back bigger and better in 2008, be sure to check out the True Colors Website: www.truecolorstour.com


THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION

THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION AND CYNDI LAUPER JOIN TOGETHER TO "REPLACE HATE WITH UNDERSTANDING, COMPASSION & ACCEPTANCE"

"I have long respected and admired Cyndi Lauper for her unwavering support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality," said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Casper, WY, The Matthew Shepard Foundation is proud to announce today that singer/songwriter Cyndi Lauper has joined its Honorary Board. In addition, Ms. Lauper has committed her Winter 2005 concert tour as an opportunity to educate and motivate her fans about the Foundation's message of understanding and acceptance.

"I have long respected and admired Cyndi Lauper for her unwavering support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality,"said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. "She has not only used her voice to make beautiful music, she has spoken out since the beginning of her career about everyone's right to be treated with respect and understanding. I cannot begin to express how honored I am that Cyndi has joined the Foundation's Honorary Board and has agreed to share our message to ERASE HATE with her fans across the country."

After meeting for the first time this past October, an immediate and indelible connection was made between Cyndi Lauper & Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Ms. Lauper, who has been a long-standing and unwavering advocate for the GLBT community, immediately pledged her support to Judy and the Foundation she and Matthew's father, Dennis, founded in their son's memory.

"Judy Shepard is an extraordinary human being who has used her and her son Matt's story to make true change in this country," said Cyndi Lauper. I am truly honored to join with the Matthew Shepard Foundation, not only as a member of its Honorary Board, but in spreading the message of love, understanding and acceptance. If we all stand together for what is fair and just, love will win out over hate."

Everyone who attended one of Ms Lauper's Winter 2005 concerts received one of the Matthew Shepard Foundation's purple "ERASE HATE" wristbands to demonstrate their commitment and spread the message to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance".




CELEBRITIES WHO STAY CLOSE

Musical Artist Cyndi Lauper is revered for revolutionizing pop music. The native New Yorker's early eye-popping style and fusion of electic sounds expanded the pop landscape and elevated the genre. Her early hit songs remain anthems of self-expression.

Cyndi: "I decided to participate in the campaign because it think it's an important issue....I think....civil rights for all of us is really important... I've always been close to my sister... I love my sister....and our mother taught us that if you are different from each other, you're still family... if you have to put it down to a very basic Italian-American saying: "you don't turn your back on your own."

"I believe there's a God but I believe that God loves all the flowers even the wild ones that grow on the side of the road...and if you truly believe in God, then you truly gotta look inside your heart"

"Sometimes you gotta open up your heart a little bit and understand people and give them love...it's all about love...and relationships and getting to know people...nobody knows your family better than you...nobody will know your children better than you know them...because you know that deep down inside if you loved your children and gave them everything they needed....even if they turn out to be somebody different than you want them to be.... they have that basic fundamental thing: the love that you gave them....you can't turn that on and off."

"It is a family issue, it's about how much you really love your kids... how much you really love your family...because when God puts it to you , you can have all your rules and regulations.... and then God puts it to you right where it really lies...in your family... you love them...do you love your kids?? To me, I always loved my sister, and I was always proud of my sister."

Elen: "I've been out for a while, since my early 20s...I've been going to gay pride festivals and parades for years... and a couple years ago, I was able to go on a PFLAG float with both Cyndi and my Mom.....and that was the first time my Mom's ever been with me on an event where she was proud of me...that was really heartwarming.. ..so this {campaign} is kind of the next step... where we get to say to people this is what it means to be more human, you love the people that are close to you...that's what it means, it's that simple."

"{Cyndi and I} were pretty close growing up... until probably adolescence... because here I was trying to figure out...I was having crushes on girls...I didn't really know what was going on...I was deeply closeted. And that, I think, is the hardest thing about being gay...even though it's better now...supposedly... if there's nobody else in your family, if there's nobody else that has a similar experience, you are going through adolescence with nobody to talk to about various crushes that you have... you know how intense it is when you're a teenager... the emotions are really high....your hormones are raging...and they're all talking about their various boyfriends and you're going 'uh huh'..."

Elen: "I think {the campaign} teaches us that we are all human beings and that we all deserve the respect and the love of a human being... we are not 3/5 of a man, we are human beings and we are lovable and we are worthy of respect."

Cyndi: "It's all about love and respect...and pride in each other...and family... PFLAG is about family."

Why This Campaign is So Important:
It is estimated that one in 4 families includes someone that is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. 69% of GLBT youth report experiencing some form of harassment or violence, with 46% reporting verbal harassment, 36% reporting sexual harassment, 12% reporting physical harassment, and 6% reporting physical assault. Gay and lesbian youths are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youths. Of 1.3 million homeless children on America's streets, 500,000 are thought to be GLBT kids thrown out by their parents.

How This Campaign Came About:
These facts could not be ignored any longer. So in 2002, PFLAG NY took the lead in developing an awareness campaign to get the word out about the PFLAG organization to parents, families, teachers, clergy, politicians, GLBT people, and the general public. The goal was to reach people who would most benefit from PFLAG's services and, ultimately, to increase acceptance, reduce bigotry, and change hearts and minds.

PFLAG NY recruited talented individuals from various fields (advertising, PR, law, media) to work pro bono on the awareness effort, which became known as the "Stay Close" campaign. After three years in the making, PFLAG NY launched "Stay Close" featuring straight celebrities with their gay relatives.

The message is simple: Stay Close to your loved ones because relationships are too precious to lose.



To find out more about the Stay Close Campaign visit: www.stayclose.org

To find out more about PFLAG visit: www.pflagncy.org