Cyndi Lauper To Get Hollywood Star

Yesterday Harvey Fierstein revealed that he'll soon be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and today we learn that Grammy and Tony winner Cyndi Lauper will get the same honor. Openly gay jazz star Dave Koz announced the 2016 honorees, which also include Mama Cass, Bruno Mars, and Kathy Bates.

Broadway Cares Salutes Cyndi Lauper, Donates $150K To True Colors Fund

Clip recap:

From Executive Director Tom Viola: I had the pleasure of dropping by the stage door of the Hirschfeld Theatre this week to join the cast of Kinky Boots in presenting Cyndi Lauper with a “big check” representing the $150,000 donated to True Colors Fund by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS from the more than $1.2 million in resources raised by the show since it opened in April 2013. Broadway Cares salutes Cyndi and True Colors Fund for everything they have done to advance equality for all and, in doing so, helping to end homelessness for gay and transgendered youth. “You change the world when you change your mind!” But our voices are stronger and the change embraces us all when we stand together.

#Pizza4Equality Raises $160K For Cyndi Lauper's Homeless LGBT Youth Fund

Clip description:

In the 26 days leading up to #40ToNoneDay, #Pizza4Equality has raised $160,000 from 4,224 donors! The campaign began with very high goals but low expectations. The support exceeded expectations and provided not only a lot of money but a statement of where our values lie. We're wrapping up soon but wanted to release this thank you video for everyone! (Enjoy the music from Cyndi Lauper's Tony-award winning musical, Kinky Boots!) In it you can get glimpses of the people and programs associated with True Colors Fund. We encourage you to stay in touch with them and help their educational and advocacy efforts to end youth homelessness.

This is the work of activist Scott Wooledge! Donations continue to be accepted at the link above.

Cyndi Lauper Testifies Before Congress On Behalf Of Homeless LGBT Youth

Yesterday Cyndi Lauper testified before a Senate subcommittee on youth homelessness. After the hearing, she and GOP Sen. Susan Collins discussed the Senate's recent refusal to reauthorize an LGBT-inclusive funding bill. Via the New York Times:

The problem, Ms. Collins said, was “confusion” over parts of the amendment, including a measure misinterpreted as a restriction on faith-based organizations’ ability to show preference in hiring those of their own faith. Ms. Collins pointed out that the Justice Department already provided that protection. She said she hoped to clarify that when and take another crack at passing the measure she originally introduced. “Well, when will that be, do you think?” Ms. Lauper asked. “I don’t know exactly,” Ms. Collins said. “Then what should we do?” Ms. Lauper said. Keep pushing, Ms. Collins responded. But she has yet to discuss another effort to reauthorize the legislation, either as a stand-alone bill or an amendment, with Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky. “Who is that guy?” Ms. Lauper asked. “He is the majority leader,” Ms. Collins said. “He decides what comes to the floor.”

Senate Narrowly Rejects Bill To Fund Assistance To Homeless LGBT Youth

From Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund:

Today, the United States Senate failed to pass the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (S.A. 290), which would reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA). The vote was 56 "YES" to 43 "NO" - short of the 60 "YES" votes required to pass. The Act includes a non-discrimination clause that would help ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth experiencing homelessness not only have access to critical services, but that those services are safe, welcoming, and tailored to meet their unique needs. Research continues to show that while LGBT youth make up just seven percent of the general youth population, they comprise up to 40 percent of the 1.6 million youth that are homeless in America each year. 

"Thank you to the 56 senators who showed true leadership today by voting in favor of protecting all of our nation’s 1.6 million homeless youth,” said Cyndi Lauper, Co-Founder of the True Colors Fund. “Unfortunately, 43 senators put the objections of conservative religious groups ahead of the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable youth. Every day, homeless gay and transgender youth experience rejection and discrimination from their families, communities, and the providers who are supposed to help them. Today, 43 senators added their names to the group of people who think that it is acceptable to throw away the up to 40% of homeless youth who identify as LGBT."

Chris Geidner reports on the voting:

For the third time this year, a majority of the Republican-led Senate voted for a pro-LGBT measure — with 56 senators, including 10 Republicans, voting for an amendment that including LGBT protections for runaway youth. Wednesday’s vote to amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act into the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 failed, however, as it would have required 60 votes to pass. The amendment included a nondiscrimination clause that would have prohibited runaway and homeless relief programs created by the act from discriminating against LGBT children based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sens. Kelly Ayotte, Shelley Moore Capito, Susan Collins, Dean Heller, Mark Kirk, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Rob Portman, Dan Sullivan, and Pat Toomey joined all the Democrats in voting for the measure, which was brought to a vote by Sen. Pat Leahy. Among the declared presidential candidates, Paul was the only one to vote for the measure. Sen. Marco Rubio opposed the amendment, and Sen. Ted Cruz did not vote on the amendment or the underlying bill, which passed 99-0. This was not the first such vote, suggesting that, while there is still not yet a filibuster-proof majority supporting LGBT rights in the Senate, there is a simple majority who appears willing to back a broad range of LGBT rights measures. In many cases, however, the Republican leadership’s opposition to LGBT rights measures would keep them from coming to the floor.

Tweet Of The Day - Cyndi Lauper

LAUNCHED: #Pizza4Equality

Activist Scott Wooledge has launched #Pizza4Equality, which has already raised $18K for Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund for homeless LGBT kids. Here's the GoFundMe page.

Cyndi Lauper: The FRC Wants Homeless LGBT Kids Excluded From Federal Act

Via press release from Cyndi Lauper:

Can you believe that there are people actively working to leave youth out in the cold? Don’t they realize it's just going to push us to work even harder to protect our kids?! The Family Research Council is one of those groups. Their target: a clause in the the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act that would specifically protect the 40% of homeless youth who identify as identify as LGBT.

This is what they had to say about the clause: “It contains a definition of gender identity (‘actual or perceived gender-related characteristics’) and sexual orientation that would require special protections for some individuals at the expense of the safety and privacy of all youth served by providers.”

I don’t understand how ensuring welcoming, affirming, and appropriate services for all youth jeopardizes anyone’s safety or privacy. Programs and services receiving federal funding must be inclusive of 100% our youth, not just 60%. This isn’t about protecting some youth, but ALL youth.

You can donate to Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund here.

Feds Partner With Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund On LGBT Homelessness

Via press release from the True Colors Fund:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the True Colors Fund are excited to announce the beginning stages of implementation of the LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative, a first-of-its-kind effort to identify successful strategies to ensure that no young person is left without a home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD and the True Colors Fund have been working together since 2013 to conceive the elements of the Initiative, which is now ready to be implemented in Harris County, TX and Hamilton County, OH. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth comprise up to 40% of the homeless youth population in the United States, yet they make up only 5-7% of the general youth population. Family conflict is the most frequently reported reason that young people experience homelessness, and for LGBTQ youth, that conflict is often related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Cyndi Lauper Advocates For Homeless LGBT Youth At National Press Club Event

From an unusually even-handed report by the Christian site CNS News:

Pop singer and LGBT activist Cyndi Lauper said on Wednesday that homosexual children are “being thrown away because of who they are.” Lauper was speaking at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to mark the 40th anniversary of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and to advocate for a new authorization of the bill introduced by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to include language for LGBT youth “protections.” Lauper said that LGBT youth make up to as much as 40 percent of homeless youth in the United States while only seven percent of youth “identify as gay or transgender.” “That, to me is alarming, because that means to me that kids are being thrown away because of who they are,” she said. “I think we need these kids.

Commenters at the above-linked site are, of course, viciously attacking Lauper and LGBT kids. They use Disqus, so feel free to show your support.

RELATED: Tickets went on sale today for Lauper's star-studded benefit concert at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre.

NEW YORK CITY: Cyndi Lauper To Host Benefit Concert For Homeless LGBT Youth

Via press release:

Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund today announced annual “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert on Saturday, December 6th at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre to help raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness and funds to support the True Colors Fund’s work to address the problem. Cyndi Lauper will be joined on stage this year by 50 Cent, Natalie Maines, Patty Griffin, Salt-N-Pepa, Sufjan Stevens, Emily West, STRFKR, Liv Warfield, Hoda Kotb, and co-hosts Rosie O’Donnell and Laverne Cox. Additional guests will be announced soon. 

“For the fourth year in a row, ‘Home for the Holidays’ will feature an amazing night of performances in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth experiencing homelessness," said Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund. "I am astounded by the artists who continue to give of their time and talent each and every year and I am so excited by the line-up who are joining us in December. The concert plays such an important role in supporting the True Colors Fund’s work to ensure that no young person is homeless again because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

50 Cent! That's interesting. Tickets go on sale here tomorrow. The Beacon Theatre is on the Upper West Side and is one of the most gorgeous venues in New York City.

BROOKLYN: Liza And Rosie Join Cyndi Lauper For Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

During last night's concert at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, Cyndi Lauper prefaced a song from Kinky Boots by mentioning that she has now won a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Tony, a status known as GET. Lauper noted that the night's headliner, Cher, has EGO status as she's won an Emmy, a Grammy, and an Oscar.  Following the Kinky Boots number, Lauper brought Rosie O'Donnell up out of the audience and Rosie pointed out that she was seated with a full EGOT winner, Liza Minnelli, who then joined the the pair onstage for an obviously unrehearsed take on Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

RELATED: Lauper is one of twenty artists with GET status. Eighteen artists have EGO status. Twelve artists have full EGOT status and Liza is not on that list because her 1990 Grammy Living Legend award is honorary. Barbra Streisand and James Earl Jones are also asterisk EGOT holders for the same reason. Rosie O'Donnell has 11 Daytime Emmys for her talk show and an Emmy for her performance as the host of the 1999 Tony Awards. Next month Rosie will receive an honorary Tony Award for her philanthropic work on Broadway.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of Fly Life, today's Swag Tuesday prize is the Cyndi Lauper deluxe box set She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration, which is now available online and at retailers nationwide.

She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration is the ultimate tribute to one of the greatest albums of all time and now includes: Ten previously unreleased songs over two audio discs, including 3 brand new remixes by NERVO, Bent Collective, and Yolanda Be Cool, live tracks, early demos and studio outtakes; a brand new essay from Jancee Dunn (co-author of Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir); rare and previously unseen photos by Annie Leibovitz; and the perfect accompaniment for the ultimate fashion icon a reusable sticker set, including vinyl cut outs of Lauper's cutting-edge outfits and accessories that can be arranged in different combinations on a 3D fold-out backdrop of the bedroom featured in her iconic Girls Just Want To Have Fun music video!

We have three copies of the deluxe box set to give away. Enter by commenting on this post and please remember to leave an email address. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time.

Pop Stars Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of Cyndi Lauper's She So Unusual

Pop stars are celebrating this week's 30th anniversary of the release of Cyndi Lauper's She So Unusual with tweets that often include photos of themselves doing unusual things. Those taking part so far include Gloria Estefan, Rufus Wainwright, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho, Toni Braxton, Sarah McLachlan, and Kate Pierson. Hit the link to follow along as the tweets are posted.

JMG Exclusive: 30th Anniversary Remix Of Cyndi Lauper's Classic Time After Time

Sony Music has given JMG the distinct privilege of the exclusive hosting of the Bent Collective Remix of LGBT icon Cyndi Lauper's classic Time After Time, which comes from a brand new package that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of She's So Unusual.

Music icon Cyndi Lauper will celebrate the anniversary of her groundbreaking, record-setting debut album with She’s So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration which will be released through Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, on April 1, 2014 and is available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon now. The 2-CD deluxe edition will feature the original album, rare demos, live concert recording as well as remixes by some of today’s hottest DJs and producers including NERVO, Bent Collective and Yolanda Be Cool. The collection will also be made available as a solo CD (original remastered album and 3 new remixes) as well as a 1-LP vinyl (includes an insert for download of 3 new remixes).  In addition to rare and never-before-heard recordings, the physical deluxe edition includes an unusual surprise. The collection includes a reusable sticker set, including vinyl cut outs of Lauper’s cutting-edge outfits and accessories that can be arranged in different combinations on a 3D fold-out backdrop of the bedroom featured in her iconic “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” music video. Journalist and author Jancee Dunn, who worked with Lauper on her 2012 New York Times Best Selling autobiography, authored the detailed liner notes.

She's So Unusual spent 65 weeks on Billboard's album Top 40 and sold over 28 million copies worldwide. The first four singles from the album reached the Billboard singles Top 5, including the Grammy-nominated Time After Time, which spent two weeks at #1 in 1984 after its release 30 years ago this week.

Paging You-Know-Who: Kinky Boots To Perform During Super Bowl Pre-Show

If you thought wingnut outrage was deafening after the cast of Kinky Boots performed during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, you better get out your earplugs for when they see the same thing during the Super Bowl pre-show.  It's not yet clear if the cast will physically be AT the stadium or if the performance will be televised from Broadway, but Sunday's matinee at the Hirshfeld Theatre has been canceled. (Tipped by JMG reader Chris)

MANHATTAN: Stars Turn Out For Cyndi Lauper's Benefit For Homeless LGBT Kids

Last night Cyndi Lauper held her annual Home For The Holidays show at Manhattan's Beacon Theater, where Pink, Josh Groban, Rosie O'Donnell, Big Freedia, Susan Sarandon, Nelly Furtado, and the Indigo Girls were among the performers. The evening benefited Lauper's True Colors Forty To None Project, a name which references the fact that 40% of the homeless kids in New York City identify as LGBT.  Here are few clips from last night that appeared on YouTube so far.

Rep. Gwen Moore Files To Add LGBT Youth To Homeless & Runaway Youth Bill

The Runaway & Homeless Youth Act, which was first passed in 2008, is due to be reauthorized. Rep. Gwen Moore has filed a new version of the bill that would explicitly include LGBT youth in its coverage. Moore's bill is co-sponsored by openly gay Rep. Mark Pocan.

I ran away from home when I was an adolescent,” said Rep. Moore. “It was the first and last time. Living on the streets is a difficult and dangerous experience – one that no child should have to endure. Unfortunately, homelessness is the reality for hundreds of thousands of youth each year. According to some studies, LGBT youth account for up to 40 percent of all homeless youth. LGBT homelessness is an issue that negatively impacts our children, our families and our communities."

LGBT youth advocate Cyndi Lauper reacts via press release:

No young person should ever be homeless, let alone because they are gay or transgender, but when they are, we need to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect when they seek help,” said Cyndi Lauper, Co-Founder of the True Colors Fund. “I applaud Representatives Moore and Pocan for championing the Runaway and Homeless Youth Inclusion Act. Every young person, no matter who they are, deserves an even break and should never be turned away. If we want a strong future, we need to invest in all of our youth.”

Here's some background on the bill:

Currently, the legislation omits language relating to LGBT youth. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Inclusion Act (RHYIA) would help ensure that LGBT youth are not discriminated against and that grant recipients have the cultural competency to effectively serve these youth. In addition, RHYIA would take important steps to provide family support services for those struggling with the sexual orientation or gender identity of youth in their families.

Kinky Boots Leads 2013 Tony Awards With Six Wins Including Best Musical

Kinky Boots took top honors at tonight's Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. The show won in six categories including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Leading Actor. The co-producer thanked his husband from the stage, saying, "You make me a better person every day we're together."

Best Musical: Kinky Boots
Best Revival of a Musical: Pippin
Best Actress, Musical: Patina Miller, Pippin
Best Actress,  Play: Cicely Tyson, The Trip To Bountiful
Best Actor, Play: Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Best Actor, Musical: Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Best Book of a Musical: Matilda The Musical
Best Revival of a Play: Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Best Play: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Best Featured Actress, Musical: Andrea Martin, Pippin
Best Featured Actor, Musical: Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical
Best Featured Actress, Play: Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Best Featured Actor, Play: Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy
Best Choreography: Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Best Original Score: Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots
Best Director, Play: Pam MacKinnon, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Best Director, Musical: Diane Paulus, Pippin
Best Costume Design of a Play: Ann Roth, The Nance
Best Costume Design of a Musical: William Ivey Long, Cinderella
Best Orchestrations: Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots

Here's Cyndi Lauper's Best Score win for Kinky Boots. That puts her 75% of the way to her EGOT.

Broadway Blows A Kiss To Cyndi Lauper

Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Katie Couric, the cast of Kinky Boots and several other Broadway shows performed a lip-sync in tribute to the 30th anniversary of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Cyndi Lauper's first Tony nomination.  Lauper is up for Best Original Score for Kinky Boots at this Sunday's Tony Awards.