High Note
Global Prize
The High Note Global Prize is awarded annually to an extraordinary artist who has promoted social justice causes for over a decade. Since this unique global award is supported by United Nations Human Rights, it has been referred to as “The Nobel Prize in Music."
High Note Global Prize
Recipient
CYNDI LAUPER
In recognition of her advocacy for LGBTQ rights throughout her career, Cyndi Lauper has been named a High Note Global Prize recipient. A life-long advocate for the LGBTQ community, Cyndi Lauper co-founded True Colors United, a nonprofit organization working to prevent and end LGBTQ youth homelessness around the globe.
High Note
FEATURED ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
HIGH NOTE HONORS
Cyndi Lauper is a High Note Global Prize laureate. Throughout her career, Cyndi Lauper has been a LGBTQ rights supporter and advocate, tirelessly campaigning for equality through various charities and events around the world.
In 2008, Lauper co-founded True Colors United after learning that while 10% of American youth identify themselves as LGBTQ, up to 40% of American youth experiencing homelessness do so. The organization works to prevent and end youth homelessness, focusing on the unique experiences of LGBTQ youth.
“Musicians hold a special place in society, as they have the ability to inspire people to action. We are proud to support The High Note Global Initiative and The High Note Global Prize in an effort to galvanize global awareness of the importance of human rights, and at the same time honor artists who passionately use their work to promote and protect the rights of others.”
- Laurent Sauveur \
Chief External Outreach, UN Human Rights
Cyndi Lauper co-founded True Colors United, a nonprofit organization that implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people, who make up to 40% of the youth homelessness population in America.
True Colors United recognized that communities and youth homelessness service providers want to be safe and welcoming for LGBTQ youth, but often don’t have the knowledge or resources to do so – creating barriers for these young people to get the support they need. True Colors United fills that space by offering free training and resources on how to meet the needs of LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. They also advocate in government and media to help ensure critical funding and services for all youth, and create opportunities for youth who have experienced homelessness to be key leaders in the effort to end the problem.
“We each have a personal responsibility to make sure LGBTQ youth are treated with dignity and respect.”
- Cyndi Lauper
Co-Founder, True Colors United
For more information, visit: truecolorsunited.org.
HIGH NOTE
GLOBAL PARTNER - UN HUMAN RIGHTS
FREE AND EQUAL:
THE UNITED NATIONS' GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA
Close to a third of the world’s countries criminalize consensual, loving, same-sex relationships, entrenching prejudice and putting millions of people at risk of blackmail, arrest and imprisonment. Many countries force transgender people to undergo medical treatment, sterilization or meet other onerous preconditions before they can obtain legal recognition of their gender identity.
Intersex children are often subjected to unnecessary surgery, causing physical and psychological pain and suffering. In many cases, a lack of adequate legal protections combined with hostile public attitudes leads to widespread discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people – including workers being fired from jobs, students bullied and expelled from schools, and patients denied essential healthcare.
In July 2013, United Nations Human Rights launched its Free & Equal initiative, an unprecedented global UN public information campaign aimed at promoting equal rights and fair treatment of LGBTQ people around the world. National UN Free & Equal campaigns and events have been organized in almost 30 countries, with visible support from the UN system political, community and religious leaders and from celebrities in all regions of the world.
For more information, visit: unfe.org
