U.N. awards Cyndi Lauper first social justice prize for LGBT+ work

LONDON, Thomson Reuters Foundation, November 27 - U.S. singer Cyndi Lauper, who is set to win the United Nations' new social justice award, said on Wednesday that her drive to end LGBT+ homelessness began in support of family and friends.

Best known for her '80s-era pop hits, Lauper will receive the United Nations inaugural High Note Global Prize on December 10 - Human Rights Day - for the work of her charity, True Colors United, to support homeless LGBT+ youth.

“Being an ally came naturally to me. LGBT rights are human rights. It wasn't in me to stand idly by while my friends and family were being mistreated,” Lauper, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, describing youth homelessness as an “epidemic”.

“It means a great deal to receive this award because it will help to raise awareness of this issue. It is a fixable problem if we all come together to help these kids.”

True Colors United estimates up to four out of 10 of the 4.2 million homeless young people in the United States are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT+) and works to ensure that services for them are safe and welcoming.

Three-quarters of homeless LGBT+ youth surveyed by True Colors United said they had been in child welfare. These young people are often mistreated in foster care, which can lead to homelessness and sexual exploitation, the charity said.

Lauper will be given the U.N. award at her charity's annual concert by Grammy-nominated singer Kesha. Billy Porter, star of “Pose” and the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy, and singer-songwriter King Princess will also perform at the event.