"True Colors" Cyndi Lauper

Performing for LGBT Youth Tomorrow Night in Los Angeles, CA

The True Colors Fund is excited to announce the lineup and honorees for its sold out inaugural Cyndi Lauper’s Damn Gala, taking place at the Hollywood Athletic Club on Sunday, October 9th in Los Angeles, CA. The organization, co-founded by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winning artist Cyndi Lauper to prevent and end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, will feature a keynote address from Secretary Julián Castro of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The True Colors Fund is honored that Secretary Castro will provide the keynote at our inaugural Damn Gala,” said Cyndi Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund. “For the past four years, we have had the great privilege to partner with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to pilot and advance new solutions to prevent and end LGBT youth homelessness. We will end youth homelessness in America and, due to the strategic and innovative leadership of Secretary Castro and the team at HUD, tremendous progress has already been made.”

                                                              True Colors

The Damn Gala, which will feature performances by Ms. Lauper and True Colors Fund Board Member and Tony Award winning artist Sara Ramirez, will pay tribute to USA Network and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. James Paxton and Tyler Young, stars of USA Network’s upcoming series, EYEWITNESS, premiering October 16th, will be presenting the network with its award. The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s award will be presented by Marc Malkin, Managing Editor and Correspondent at E! News, and his husband Fabian Quezada-Malkin. In addition, Phoebe VanCleefe and Kahlib Barton, two of True Colors Fund’s extraordinary youth leaders, will present TED-style talks, while True Colors Fund Board Member and Emmy Award winning personality Carson Kressley will serve as the evening’s host.

“We are excited to honor USA Network and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, two of our longest and closest partners in the effort to end LGBT youth homelessness in America,” said Gregory Lewis, Executive Director & CEO of the True Colors Fund. “For over 40 years, the Los Angeles LGBT Center has been a national leader in providing life-saving services for LGBT youth experiencing homelessness. USA Network has worked tirelessly to open countless hearts and minds through its programming and its public service campaign Characters Unite, which was created to address the social injustices and cultural divides still prevalent in our society. Both USA Network and the Los Angeles LGBT Center have been true leaders in creating a more accepting and affirming society for LGBT youth and we look forward to celebrating them at Cyndi Lauper’s Damn Gala.”

The Damn Gala is supported by Platinum Sponsors NCompass, Pride.com (National Media Partner), and Van Gogh Vodka (National Corporate Partner); and Gold Sponsors Angeleno Magazine, Jason Mraz Foundation, and Tylenol PM (National Corporate Partner).

The Damn Gala is currently sold out, but those interested in attending can join the waiting list by emailing RSVP@truecolorsfund.org. If tickets become available, they begin at $500, and tables of ten start at $5,000. For remaining sponsorship opportunities please contact rob@truecolorsfund.org. The net proceeds from the Damn Gala will benefit the True Colors Fund’s work to prevent and end LGBT youth homelessness in America.

To learn more about Cyndi Lauper’s Damn Gala, please visit www.truecolorsfund.org/damngala.