United Nations Honoring Cyndi Lauper for Her LGBTQ Advocacy

by Brandon Voss

1h ago

Her true colors have not gone unseen.

Cyndi Lauper will receive the inaugural High Note Global Prize in recognition of her tireless efforts as an LGBTQ advocate, Rolling Stone reports.

The Grammy, Emmy, and Tony winner is being specifically honored for her work with True Colors United, which helps homeless LGBTQ youth.

The High Note Global Prize is presented by United Nations Human Rights and the High Note Global Initiative, which was founded by philanthropist David Clark.

“In 2008, Lauper co-founded True Colors United after learning that while 10% of American youth identify themselves as LGBTQ, up to 40% of American youth experiencing homelessness do so,” the High Note Global Initiative writes. “The organization works to prevent and end youth homelessness, focusing on the unique experiences of LGBTQ youth.

The High Note Global Initiative “celebrates artists that fuse music with human rights to promote social justice through their music, which like human rights, has no borders,” according to a statement, and the High Note Global Prize will be awarded annually “to an extraordinary artist who has promoted social justice causes for over a decade.”

Happy Holidays everyone. Please join me at my #Home4Holidays concert in LA on Dec 10. It’s gonna be a blast! Click the link below to get your tickets now. xx Cyn https://t.co/HsJ84aYIZF

— Cyndi Lauper (@cyndilauper) November 27, 2019

“Musicians hold a special place in society, as they have the ability to inspire people to action,” says Laurent Sauveur, Chief External Outreach, UN Human Rights. “We are proud to support The High Note Global Initiative and The High Note Global Prize in an effort to galvanize global awareness of the importance of human rights, and at the same time honor artists who passionately use their work to promote and protect the rights of others.”

Rolling Stone is the High Note Global Initiative media partner. “We’re thrilled to support The High Note Global Initiative and to honor Cyndi Lauper as the first High Note Global Prize Laureate,” said Rolling Stone president and COO Gus Wenner. “Rolling Stone was founded with the mission to explore the connections between music and culture—values that are at the core of The High Note Global Initiative—so we’re excited to support this cause.”

Fellow LGBTQ ally Kesha will present the award to Lauper December 10 at Lauper’s annual “Home for the Holidays” benefit concert in Los Angeles. December 10 is also UN Human Rights Day.

Additional “Home for the Holidays” participants include Brandi Carlile, Billy Porter, and Lily Tomlin. All of the net proceeds from the concert event will support True Colors United’s programs to prevent and end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.

The Grammy Museum, which serves as the partner institution of the High Note Global Initiative, will display Lauper’s award after the ceremony.

Lauper was also among the honorees at the 2017 Logo Trailblazer Honors, which celebrates pioneers in the LGBTQ rights movement. “I never set out to be a trailblazer,” Lauper said at the New York event. “I was a friend and family member who couldn’t stand on the sidelines anymore and be a bystander. I always felt that since I do have a big mouth, I might as well use it to help people who aren’t being heard.”