The True Colors Tour is back for more this summer with an exciting new lineup of legendary and up-and-coming artists. Produced in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, the 26-city North American tour is presented by Logo in support of the newly created True Colors Fund of the Stonewall Community Foundation. The tour kicks off Gay & Lesbian Pride Month today at Boston's Bank of America Pavilion. 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. True Colors Tour, May 31 - July 5. See 2008 Tour Schedule here...

Source True Colors & Logo

The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras has grown from a local gay pride event to being one of the most spectacular gay and lesbian event in the world. Just recently Conde Nast listed it amongst the 10 most spectacular costume events. Right up there with Venice and Rio. 2008 marks the 30th year of this Australian major event and it promises to be one of the biggest and best yet. There will be a month of high quality arts, sporting and social events culminating in the world famous Parade on Saturday 1 March (begins at Hyde Park, travels up Oxford St and ends at Moore Park Road) and Party. Some of the highlights of the 2008 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival: Cyndi Lauper will perform live at the State Theatre; Margaret Cho will premiere her new show, Beautiful; The 2008 Mardi Gras Film Festival; Canadian crooners Wet Spots will perform live... The festival will kick off on Saturday 9 February with a commemorative tree planting ceremony in Centennial Park. More info here...



Source New Mardi gras, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi gras

The True Colors Tour with Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, Dresden Dolls, Margaret Cho and more, ends tonight at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California. A "Take Action!" video produced for the Tour by The Human Rights Campaign, has motivated thousands to write their senators in support of hate crimes laws. Watch the video and take action here...


Source The Human Rights Campaign

Tourism Toronto has announced a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening Toronto’s market position as one of the top international destinations for high-value U.S. gay travelers. “The gay travel market is one of the fastest-growing segments and is a $55 billion industry. This represents a major opportunity for Toronto,” said David Whitaker, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. “Toronto offers a great deal to gay visitors, who tend to travel more often, stay longer and spend more in a destination.” Although Tourism Toronto has marketed to gay travelers in the past, this year it increased its investment by 50 per cent to $300,000 to reach this important segment, focusing on four major U.S. cities – New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Tourism Toronto also announced that Toronto has won the bid to host the 2009 Annual Convention of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). “In choosing Toronto, our members sensed a thriving and well-organized community that is making a serious, long-term commitment to the gay travel market,” said John Tanzella, Executive Director of the IGLTA.



Returning for its 27th celebration, Toronto Pride Week 2007, presents the only Canadian date for the True Colors Tour presenting musical performances in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. The Tour includes artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip and The Clicks, hosted by Margaret Cho. A portion of the proceeds will be given to Pride Toronto. Today at Molson Amphitheatre, doors open 5pm.

Toronto Pride Week 2007 will end on Sunday, June 24 with the Pride Parade. It will start at 2:00 pm at the corner of Bloor Street East and Church Street, move westward to Yonge Street, proceed south on Yonge Street to Gerrard Street, move eastward on Gerrard Street and finishe at Church Street.

Source Toronto Tourism

Twenty one years after the popular hit Oh L'Amour, Bristish synth pop duo Erasure releases a brand new album, Light at the end of the world.
Erasure will be a part of the multi-artist True Colors Tour, which will travel through 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The tour, sponsored by the Logo channel, begins on June 8, 2007. Hosted by comedian Margaret Cho and headlined by Cyndi Lauper, the tour will also include Debbie Harry, The Gossip, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes, The Cliks and other special guests. Profits from the tour will help to benefit the Human Rights Campaign. Will follow a Light At The End Of The World Tour starting on July 6 in Tampa.
Watch 1986 Oh L'Amour video (left) and new single I Could Fall In Love With You video (right)...

The Human Rights Campaign has joined forces with legendary performer Cyndi Lauper to launch a national tour in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. The True Colors 2007 Tour will feature Cyndi and other incredible artists including Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls and Margaret Cho as well as a variety of special guests, including Rufus Wainwright in certain cities. In addition, HRC will receive a portion of every ticket sold. The True Colors Tour was conceived by Cyndi Lauper, a long time supporter of the gay and lesbian community. Her motivation for this tour stemmed from her desire to give back to the community for the love and support they have given her throughout her career, while bringing gay and straight audiences together in support of equality and against discrimination. The True Colors Tour is presented by Logo and produced by True Colors Concerts, LLC in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign.
True Colors is a celebration of the basic values and freedoms that should be shared by all. For official tour & ticket information visit: truecolorstour.com. Watch Cindy Lauper presenting the Tour with TODAY host Meredith Vieira on NBC...

On December 1, 2006, the Matthew Shepard Foundation will honor one of the world's most acclaimed pieces of theater and film, 'The Laramie Project', on the 30th birthday of the late Matthew Shepard. The event will take place at 8:00 pm at the Town Hall Theater in Times Square, New York. A V.I.P. Cast Party will follow the event. The evening will feature an abridged play read by Stockard Channing, Mary-Louise Parker, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Jackson, Judith Light, Robert Desiderio, Kathy Najimy, James Murtaugh, Van Hansis, Chad Allen (picture below) and more, as well as a special tribute acknowledging Matthew Shepard's 30th Birthday.



The Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998.

Source: Matthew Shepard Foundation

MTV Networks and Orbitz.com were honored for “inclusive excellence in portrayals of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals” in their promotional advertising during the Commercial Closet Association's Second Annual Corporate Visionary Honors event, held Nov. 20 at The New York Times’ historic, 93-year-old building.
"We applaud MTV Networks and Orbitz.com for their ground-breaking and long-standing commitments to inclusiveness and portrayals of LGBT individuals in advertising—they provide an important model for corporate advertisers," Michael Wilke, founding executive director of Commercial Closet Association, said in a release.
Cyndi Lauper presented the honors for LGBT inclusive advertising to Lisa Sherman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MTV Networks' LOGO, and Randy Susan Wagner, Chief Marketing Officer, Orbitz Worldwide, a division of Travelport, Inc. Source 247 Gay

Watch MTV's Ad against discrimination with two cute gay skateboarders: