“I can’t imagine any dyke who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s who doesn’t love Cyndi Lauper, Joan Armatrading and the B-52s,” says The Centre’s interim executive director. Like many other queers in Vancouver, Jennifer Breakspear is looking forward to the True Colors concert tour, which touches down in Deer Lake Park in Burnaby on Jul 2.
According to the tour’s website, “the goal of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) equality is at the heart of True Colors. From day one, the tour has sought to raise awareness about the discrimination the GLBT community still faces and raise significant funds for the organizations that work everyday on their behalf.”
Proceeds from this year’s ticket sales will be divvied up between several non-profit partners serving gay communities here and in the US. Egale is the primary Canadian beneficiary, though $1 from each ticket sold to the Vancouver event will be split between the national advocacy group and The Centre on Bute St.
Though the tour’s emphasis at its US stops is to get out the vote for this fall’s presidential election, Breakspear says the Canadian leg has a somewhat different focus.
“The primary message on the Canadian stops is homophobia and transphobia in the schools,” she says. “Here at The Centre we’re excited to connect with them on this tour because of our PrideSpeak education and outreach program where we’re working directly with the school systems on combating homophobia and transphobia.”
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