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.”

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.

MAINE: Dem US Senate Candidate Objects To HRC's Endorsement Of GOP Opponent

"My opponent, Republican Susan Collins, had the chance to speak up in favor of marriage equality in 2012 or any time in the previous decade. Two years after her constituents made their feelings known at the ballot box, she has refused to break her silence. I believe Mainers need, want and deserve more proactive representation on equal rights -- on allowing LGBT students to learn without fear of bullying, on applying for jobs and going to work without fear of discrimination, and on much more. I'm running for Senate to provide that proactive representation and to expand Constitutional protections for our LGBT community. This is one endorsement in an election year. Mainers are more interested in both candidates' records, and my record speaks for itself." - Former ACLU of Maine executive director Shenna Bellows, via press release.

RELATED: In an op-ed written for the Huffington Post, last week Bellows vowed that "one of her first acts as senator would be the introduction of a national Human Rights Act to prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in marriage, housing, education, access to credit, public accommodations and employment."

MAINE: Susan Collins Becomes Fourth GOP Senator To Endorse Gay Marriage

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has become the fourth GOP member of her chamber to endorse marriage equality.

“A number of states, including my home state of Maine, have now legalized same-sex marriage, and I agree with that decision,” the Maine Republican said in a statement issued after several news organizations made inquiries. Collins joins three other GOP senators who have said they support gay marriage: Illinois’ Mark Kirk, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski and Ohio’s Rob Portman. She had been criticized for keeping her view to herself until Wednesday. Campaign spokesman Lance Dutson says she has consistently said the decision rests at the state or local level. She has twice voted against proposed constitutional amendments to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

The Human Rights Campaign reacted by endorsing Collins' reelection bid.

“Senator Susan Collins has played a pivotal role in advancing support for LGBT equality -- from her dogged support for the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” to her critical vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last year, to her proud support for marriage equality,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “HRC is proud to stand with Senator Collins, and with allies on both sides of the aisle like her, because she firmly believes that every American should be evaluated based on their abilities, and not who they love.”

“I am grateful for the support that I continue to receive from the Human Rights Campaign for my work in the Senate to end discrimination and achieve LGBT equality,” said Senator Collins. “HRC fully understands the need to have allies in both the Republican and Democratic caucuses, and I am proud of the reputation that I have established for working with my Senate colleagues of both parties in a bipartisan spirit for fairness and equality. I look forward to our continued work together to bring people together and remove barriers that divide us.”

Giving Credit Where It's Due

Via Memographs.