Cyndi Lauper headlines Pride Toronto's 30th anniversary festival

TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - Cyndi Lauper, one of the world's most recognized Queer icons, comes to Toronto on Saturday, July 3 2010 for a FREE concert in Queen's Park.

An unwavering advocate for LGBTTIQQ2SA* rights, Cyndi Lauper established herself as a household name with the 1983 single "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", kicking off a long career which includes more than 25 million in record sales and nominations for 13 Grammy awards, 2 Emmy awards, 2 American Music Awards, 7 American Video Awards and 18 MTV awards.

Her most recent album "Bring Ya To The Brink" affirmed her international pop diva status, even more so amongst her LGBT fans, who were featured prominently in the music video for her No.1 single, "Into The Nightlife".

"It's an honor to always have the genuine affection of the gay community," Cyndi says. "They have never turned their back on me and I will never turn my back on them. We've had a long and enduring love affair."

In 2007, Lauper created the True Colors Tour, bringing together artists like Erasure, The B-52s, the Indigo Girls, Deborah Harry and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to raise public awareness about issues facing the LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities. A year later, she founded the True Colors Fund to inspire and engage everyone-particularly those in the straight community-to become involved in the advancement of equality.

Most recently, Lauper joined Lady Gaga as a spokesperson for the 2010 MAC Viva Glam Campaign, which was established in 1994 to support people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS around the world.

The Grammy award-winning singer and Emmy award-winning actress is currently working on her newest studio album scheduled for release in June. Lauper is also featured on the new "Celebrity Apprentice" edition on NBC starting March 14 and later this year launches her own reality show.

Lauper's performance during Pride Week will be part of a full program of entertainment and activities in Queen's Park; the newest addition to the ever-expanding Pride Week site which includes eight stages over more than 22 city blocks and an attendance of more than one million. Plans for the new Queen's Park site include a beverage garden and more Pride Week Streetfair exhibitors.

"We are happy that Cyndi and her incredible team worked with us to make this happen" said Mary Zondanos, Arts & Entertainment Manager for Pride Toronto. "Her work both as a performer and an activist is an inspiration to us all. There will be tears, and I'm sure some will be mine."

About Pride Toronto:

Pride Toronto is the not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual festival held during the last week of June in downtown Toronto. Pride Toronto exists to celebrate the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto's LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities and is one of the leading cultural events of its kind in the world with a total economic benefit in 2009 of $136 million. Toronto's Pride Week has been named Best Festival in Canada by the Canadian Special Events Industry, is recognized as one of only Eight Signature Events in the city of Toronto, is ranked as one of the TOP 50 festivals in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) and is the third largest Queer celebration in the world. http://www.pridetoronto.com

* Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited and Allies

For further information: Media Contact: Michael Ain, Marketing and Communications Manager, Tel: [phone], Ext. 226, [email protected], www.pridetoronto.com