Cyndi Lauper Busy Promoting Awareness Since World AIDS Day

Singer and LGBT activist Cyndi Lauper has been busy for the last several days promoting awareness for AIDS since World AIDS Day, which takes place annually on Dec. 1.

According to ontheredcarpet.com, Lauper, a longtime LGBT activist, will team up with other activists like Clay Aiken, Rosie O'Donnell and Alan Cumming for a concert dubbed Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home For The Holidays in New York's Beacon Theatre on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness.

When I first learned that up to 40 percent of all homeless youth in this country identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender I was shocked and saddened, Lauper said in a statement on her True Colors Fund website. For far too long homeless youth have not received the attention, resources and funding necessary to bring an end to this epidemic. My hope is that through this inspiring evening of music and comedy we can raise awareness and much needed funds to help these young people.

Lauper started her True Colors Fund, named after her hit single True Colors, in 2008 to help the LGBT homeless problem. In September, the Fund opened the True Colors Residence, a 30 studio permanent housing building in New York's Upper West Side dedicated to helping LGBT homeless youth. All concert proceeds will go to the fund.

Lauper, who has long worked with MAC cosmetics' Viva Glam collection, also promoted the company's MAC AIDS fund on World AIDS Day, according to reports. Other celebs, such as Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, and Ricky Martin, among others, support the fund, which has collected over $224 million in the fight for the prevention of and cure for HIV/AIDS.

Lauper is urging parents to urge their daughters to use the lipstick from the Viva Glam collection as a symbol of protection.

We have to communicate with our kids, said Lauper to People Magazine. Give your girls lipstick, and remind them that every time they put their M.A.C Viva Glam lipstick on and go out, to protect themselves.

People also reported that on World AIDS Day, Lauper also worked at the LGBT Youth Center in New York City's West Village, giving at-risk teens goodie bags with MAC products as she discussed AIDS with them.

A lot of people are feeling bad about themselves, and when you're a teenager you're self destructive, Lauper said. But what seems terrible now won't be terrible 10 years down the line. It's not as bleak as it looks. You'll get through it. You are precious. Protect yourself.

Lauper especially warned the teens of unprotected sex, saying that half of new HIV infections appear in people under 24, and that bisexual and gay men are at risk for the virus as young as 13 years old.

If you get yourself sick with AIDS, you'll either be dead or living with AIDS, she said. It's hard to go through life with a compromised immune system. AIDS is 100 percent preventable ... but it's 100 percent not curable.