Cyndi Lauper on the True Colors of Politics

Jake Tapper, Reena Ninan, Richard Coolidge, & Sherisse Pham

Political Punch

Whether it was a flip-flop, or an evolution, or a change of view, President Obama is the first sitting president to endorse same-sex marriage. Coincidentally, the same week the president announced this change, Cyndi Lauper, one of the biggest activists for gay and lesbian rights in the entertainment community was in town. Lauper came to D.C. to receive an award for her work to end LGBT -- lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender -- youth homelessness. Hearing the president's support for same-sex marriage, she said, felt extraordinary.

"I've never been so proud of a president before, I'm so proud to be American," Lauper said.

"I been seeing all my life the disparity and the inequality, and so to be a part of this and be here at this time gave me great hope," the singer added.

But Lauper has not always been happy to be associated with politicians. Lauper, whose 1980s hits include 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' and 'True Colors,' did not want her songs used in political ads -- even by Democrats who share many of her political views. When the DNC used in a an attack ad against Mitt Romney, she cried foul.

"They wanted to use it and I told them not to. I am worried about certain songs being used for politics because certain songs are healing songs," Lauper said. "And you don't want anyone to think about politics, you want them to think about their soul and their heart."

But Lauper has had a change of heart herself, given the president's announcement.

"In this moment, with what he said, if there was a theme song [for the moment], it would be 'True Colors,' " she said.

Check out this week's Political Punch to hear Cyndi Lauper's thoughts on civil rights, and what she was trying to accomplish in her 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' music video.