08 GAY EQUALITY MUSIC TOUR ANNOUNCED

Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Rosie O’Donnell and special guests will perform in the second annual True Colors Tour which aims to support LGBT rights in the US, the event’s organisers have announced.

The True Colors Tour will kick off LGBT Pride Month in the US on May 31st in Boston. After receiving rave reviews and a successful debut in 2007, the True Colors Tour is expanding to meet demand in many more cities.

Produced in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the 24 city North American tour is presented by Logo television network in support of the newly created True Colors Fund of Stonewall Community Foundation.

The concerts feature nearly five hours of nonstop music with special guests appearing on select dates throughout the tour including Wanda Sykes, Tegan and Sara, Regina Spektor, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joan Armatrading, Indigo Girls,Nona Hendryx, Deborah Cox and The Cliks.

This year’s tour will highlight the need for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their straight allies to get out and make their votes count in the upcoming US presidential election.

The True Colors Tour was conceived by Cyndi Lauper stemming from her desire to give back to the community for the love and support they have given her throughout her career.

“I’m so excited and honoured that we’re taking True Colors out on the road again this year,” said Lauper. “We had a blast last year and we are proud that the tour also brought about visibility and discussions of issues that LGBT citizens face in our country today.

“The True Colors Tour asks for equality for all, not just for some, that is the principal upon which this country was founded. So let’s celebrate and have fun this summer while we spread the word to get out the vote and all become a part of the changes in this country,” she said.

The True Colors Fund of Stonewall Community Foundation was created to raise funds for the tour’s non-profit partners. Funds will be raised through sales of official benefit t-shirts, an EBAY auction, the True Colors Jewelry Collection, as well as individual donations to the fund by visitors to the tour’s website.

The Human Rights Campaign is the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization with more than 700,000 members and supporters nationwide.