Cyndi Lauper headlines Pride in US soap first
American audiences of popular soap As The World Turns have been treated to a very sweet gay storyline of late, and producers of the show have recruited a gay icon to serenade the star-crossed homos.
Cyndi Lauper, the singer best known for her mega-hit True Colours, has been a fixture at Pride events and gay gatherings across America for many a year.
Gay entertainment news site AfterElton.com broke the story of her soap cameo after reporter Brian Juergens paid a visit to the As The World Turns.
“The pop legend will be making an appearance on the soap in connection with Luke and Noah,” he reported.
“While I’m sworn to secrecy on the details, I can say that Lauper will be performing a few songs at Yo’s, the Oakdale dive bar that for this particular occasion has been gussied up for a little celebration known as “Gay Pride.'”
It is thought to be the first time a Pride event has featured in an episode of As The World Turns.
Van Hansis, who plays gay teen Luke Snyder in the show, received an Emmy nomination for his work. Earlier this month gossip blogger Perez Hilton attempted to out him.
The storyline that follows his relationship with Noah Mayer, played by Jake Silbermann, has been well-received by fans and has featured several on-screen kisses that angered the religious Right in America.
They are urging a boycott of CBS over the gay content in the show.
Cyndi Lauper is a vocal supporter of gay rights, and she headlined at Sydney Mardi Gras earlier this year.
In 2007 Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) enlisted the Grammy and Emmy Award winner to launch their new “Straight for Equality” ally project, an initiative designed to connect with Americans who want to more actively support equality.
She also headline a 15-city tour across America in support of LGBT rights that year.
The idea of the tour was conceived by Lauper as a way of giving back to the gay community, who she feels have supported her throughout her career in pop music.
In 2006 she preformed at the closing ceremonies of Gay Games VII at Chicago, dressed as a rainbow version of the Statue of Liberty.
“I feel like this is becoming sort of a tradition for me since I performed last time the Gay Games were in the States, in New York City in 1994,” Lauper said.
