10 legendary gay icons and how they earned their titles

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper may have sung about girls wanting to have fun, but she really should have said “Gays Just Wanna Have Fun!”

It’s no surprise that Cyndi Lauper would garner such a huge gay following. If you look at someone more contemporary, like Lady Gaga, the gay community tends to flock to the talented girls with quirky style and a clear connection to the LGBTQ community. And that’s exactly what Cyndi Lauper was.

Lauper came onto the scene with her bright orange hair and wild ensembles, and a great voice. She was seen as a trailblazer for women’s liberation, and she wasn’t afraid to talk about things that others wouldn’t. Her song “She Bop”, for example, was about masturbation, and who could forget her anthem, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”?

After her own sister came out of the closet, that’s when Lauper realized how difficult life was for LGBTQ people, and that’s what inspired her to become an activist for the LGBTQ community. Lauper has since co-founded the True Colors Fund, a charity which “works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world where all young people can be their true selves.”

Lauper’s work on Broadway has also helped her grow her gay fanbase. She composed the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots, which made it’s Broadway debut in 2013. Lauper went on to win a Tony Award for Best Original Score, and became the first solo woman to do so.

When asked about her gay icon title in an interview, Lauper became modest. While the title is just a title, Lauper is talking the talk and actually making a difference. “I don’t know if I’m a gay icon, but I do work in the community, and I work hard for civil rights,” she said. “I was working in the community anyway, and I didn’t want to just work there and not realize I could do something to help, as opposed to just being there. So, I stepped up.”