Get ready to show your true colors, Ohio.
The legendary Cyndi Lauper is making two local stops on her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell tour:
- July 29th in Cincinnati at the Riverbend Music Center (tickets here)
- July 30th in Cuyahoga Falls at the Blossom Music Center (tickets here)
“I’ve always loved Ohio,” Lauper told The Buckeye Flame.
We spoke with the pop icon and LGBTQ+ rights champion about her path to advocacy, how she remains hopeful and even some “Time After Time” karaoke tips.
To listen, click play directly below or read our (edited) conversation beneath the audio link.
We could not be more excited to speak to you about your LGBTQ+ advocacy. What would you say motivates you to use your voice to make a difference in the way that you do?
Well, you know, I’m friend and family. So of course I’m gonna do something. But I’m also Italian, I’m a woman and I grew up watching my friends and also my sister struggle with their identity. And also I’m a lot older, so I came through a time where honestly you had your heart in your mouth all the time because there were bad people that came from across state lines to beat people up. I remember one time in ’94, we did Pride and we were at the (NYC Chelsea) Pier and the drag performers that were with me were afraid. And I realized I had to get these people home safely.
When it was my sister, I was worried for her. My sister was the big advocate of human rights. And I was her kid sister, so I would always chase her around to hug her. Poor thing.
How do you remain hopeful? You’re coming to Ohio where the Ohio legislature even just passed a bill to defund homeless shelters if they support trans youth. It can be hard to remain hopeful. How do you remain hopeful?
I believe in community organizing. When I saw Barack Obama and I heard him speak and I understood what he was saying, I realized it’s because he was a community organizer.
I really believe that Americans, they’ve been divided. Transgender people are 3% of the population. This is what everybody’s jumping up and down about?
When I was doing True Colors United, the research came back that up to 40% of the whole youth population was LGBTQ and they are very vulnerable. I will be damned if I’m gonna stand by and let anybody in my family or my friends be mistreated or have their civil rights taken.
So you stand up and how do you do that? First, you research how you can help people and then you figure out how to help. That’s the best way to go about it. And that’s not hopeful. That’s just doing the good work. That’s what I try and do. I keep thinking how I can help my community.
I think of myself as an extended family member, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m sorry: You can’t ditch me. You can try and ditch me. My sister tried to ditch me and I never left because that’s just the way it is. Sorry.
Well, we’re never gonna ditch you. One last question before you, before you come to Ohio and it’s the most important question: Cyndi Lauper, just give me one tip for me to improve my rendition of “Time After Time” during karaoke, which I tell everyone is the greatest song ever made.
Well, you gotta breathe. After you take a breath and then you release your breath before the note will come out. You gotta make sure you breathe before every phrase. You know what I’m saying? And then it comes out.
Let me say one more thing. I was reading stuff online and somebody wrote, “Cyn, the gays love glamor, but they also love to dance. Can you please do something from “Bring Ya to the Brink“? So I am, this time. I’m changing it up a little bit.
Amazing. Cyndi Lauper, you are an absolute hero of mine. We’re so excited to see you here in Ohio.
Well, I’ve always loved Ohio. Let’s see if we can bring everybody together. ‘Cause everybody’s welcome. Bring everybody together and be joyful and have a good experience and leave happy. That’s the one thing about the show, the people leave happy. That’s all I want. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Cyndi Lauper is making two Ohio stops on her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell tour:
Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!
Submit a story!
