Chronicle

Section C

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Gays just want to have fun

But the True Colors multi-band concert also throw buck to the

by Kaizaad Kotwal

This summer all across the country, LGBT citizens of America and their straight allies will get to show their true colors.

In the first-of-its-kind summer concert series, out and allied musicians and entertainers along with LGBT rights activists will cover 15 cities in 22 days, hitting Columbus on June 13

Supporting the work done by the Human Rights Campaign and on behalf of queer civil rights in America, the True Colors tour seeks to entertain and educate, perfect for the season of Pride. The concert is also being performed to support the work of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays the Mat-

thew Shepard F and0.

The tour features Cyndi Lauper, who celebrates her birthday in June and is looking at the tour as a way to have all of her LGBT friends celebrate with her.

Also performing are the Dresden Dolls, Erasure, Blondie and special guest artists, depending on the city.

Kicking off on June 8 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the concerts will be emceed by queer icon and überally Margaret Cho.

Cho, who has spoken eloquently and forthrightly about the state of queer rights in this country, is sure to bring her unique firebrand of humor and exhortation towards enhancing the status of homosexuals in the U.S. Press materials quote her saying: "I am thrilled to be part of this tour because I am about as colorful and as queer as it gets. Who else is going to keep all those queens in line?"

The tour will feature regular performers Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, the Dresden Dolls, the Gossip and the Misshapes. In addition, each city will be surprised by guest artists, entertainers and activists.

Columbus' guest artist will be the Cliks. The tour promises over five hours of entertainment at each venue, certainly unique in these days of pre-packaged concerts of short durations with exorbitant entry prices.

The idea for the tour emerged from Lauper, a long-time queer

icon and equally long-time advocate for LGBT rights. Her desire to give back to the community for its love and support sparked the idea for the tour.

This tour was created to celebrune

our differences by raising awareness for liberty, fairness and dignity for everyone.

The variety of artists was something that Lauper wanted from the very beginning.

"I love music so much and good musicians have so much passion and are so much fun to work with," she said. "[Having a variety of artists, old and new] was very important to me. If you've noticed, I've never really done an oldies. . I never want to do an '80s tour."

She pointed out that older, more established acts like Blondie and Erasure are "still making music that's viable. I also love the new, the younger acts. I'm thrilled to be working with people like the Gossip and the Cliks and the Dresden Dolls."

"This is the first year and it's pretty good," she said. "Next year it's going to be even better.”

This historical series of events may very well become the modern day traveling Woodstock in terms of the raising of social awareness, cultural consciousness and political activism.

Lauper said in a release, "As an American I was raised to believe that all people have the right to live with the same dignity, opportunity and safety. This should include everyone no matter what gender or sexual orientation."

She adds, "This tour was created to celebrate our differences by raising awareness for liberty, fairness and dignity for everyone not just some of us. Our fans can

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come out to celebrate a great cause while also hearing some great music.

HRC President Joe Solomonese

has high praise Lauper as he explains their collaboration on the

tour.

"Without fear Cyndi Lauper has been a champion for equality for not only gay and lesbian Americans but for all people," Solmonese nojus byndi has always stood witch and selflessly used her tatous to promote fairness for ex en We are honored to be a part of the True Colors tour which will empower both gay and straight Americans to show solidarity against discrimination."

With the U.S. House passing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act on May 3 and the Senate taking up its com-

sexual

ro 1 hard center. Petite table at all Tric Curs part of the bills, as hell as bion for people to use to contact their sena tors and representatives.

"The number of people they House members] heard from, the number of calls they got, the num ber of e-mails really mattere Solmonese told reporters during conference call in May. Working

conjunction with Catch with her tour in the month of June, we're going to be inviting members of the public to write their senators, taking information from people at concerts and matching them up with their senators.

"We're thrilled that Cyndi has asked us to be involved in the True

Tour," said Suzanne -founder of P-FLAG's campaign. "The tour ourful opportunity for us ties across the country essage of the P-FLAG Campaign," which

lose because relationare too precious to lose. Judy Shepard, mother of slain college student Matthew and ex-

ecutive director of the founda, tion, is also thrilled about the tour and Lauper's initiative in making it happen.

"The Matthew Shepard Foundation is honored to have been invited to take part in the True Colors Tour," says Shepard. "Music is such a powerful tool to help erase hate and educate Continued on page C-9

Cyndi Lauper