Nostalgia for good

We're at a stage where most nostalgic looks back at pop culture of yore are taking us to the 80s or early 90s, and if anyone wants to crack wise about the 80s, a go to punchline is Cyndi Lauper. Nobody exemplified the 80s quite like her.

She had the colorful hair, pop hits and the brilliant lack of staying power of pop stars identified closely with a particular decade. Still, somehow, we are seeing more and more of Lauper, either in commercials, at events or sometimes in the news.

But it wasn’t just electronic music and multicolored hair that followed pop culture out of the 80s. It was also the decade that homosexuality was more greatly acknowledged, and in many pockets of America, it was when homosexuals started to be accepted.

Part of the acknowledgement came from the recognition of the problems within the community, not the least of which were the understanding of HIV and AIDS and how they were impacting those that identified as gay, in particular. Of course, the fact that this lifestyle was associated with an epidemic only added to the stigma that has been there since the dawn of Christianity.

As with most cases of prejudice, a personal closeness with someone who is of a minority, or marginalized population can help assuage those feelings of suspicion. For Lauper, she was particularly close with the community, having a sister that identified as gay.

Coincidentally, the LBGT movement adopted the rainbow flag as a symbol for their struggle for acceptance and equal rights under the law, at about the time that Lauper released her hit single “True Colors,” a romantic song about opening up on a personal level.

While the song was not released as a gay rights anthem, the singer was, and the themes coincided nicely with what activists were striving for. Acceptance of what one truly was, and being accepted by those who loved you, even if that was a scary proposition at first. Lauper expressed something in this song beyond its original intent, and she wasn’t really trying when she did so.

10 years ago, Lauper and associates went beyond the message of the song, beyond simple acceptance, and moved tangibly to support the LGBT community, setting up the True Colors Fund. Rather than being an organization focused on rights advocacy, the Fund has dedicated itself to support for homeless LGBT youth, who disproportionately find themselves on the streets. 

This is the type of charitable endeavor that isn’t simply a vanity project for the celebrity, as many organizations run by celebrities (or even future even future presidents) can tend to be. It is a targeted program that brings awareness to a particular societal problem, rather than vaguely being for “the kids” or “the poor”. Because of its targeted concern, Lauper’s celebrity adds much needed publicity, and her passion adds more motivation.

The True Colors fund has an active roster of events and drives that seem to be well funded, and a board of directors that blends top business minds with other celebrities. The fact that this organization banked on a song that was 20 years old at the time and has seen sustained viability for 10 years says something about Lauper and the cause she is fighting for.
It's perfectly legitimate to think back to Cyndi Lauper's heyday, and think of the pink haired goofball that seems to pop up here and there even now. She was that, but we should be so lucky that a modern, seemingly flighty celebrity is so able to leverage their fame into the greater good.