“This time, love wins,” Cyndi Lauper said ahead of her performance alongside Sam Smith
Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper were among those to perform at the landmark signing of the Respect for Marriage Act in Washington DC. The new act — signed into law by US president Joe Biden yesterday (December 14) — provides federal recognition to same-sex marriages, and was borne out of concern that the Supreme Court would revert its support of such protections after the overturning of Roe V. Wade earlier this year.
Both Lauper and Smith took to the White House to launch their performances, with thousands of supporters cheering from the lawns. For their part, Sam Smith treated audiences to his 2014 smash hit Stay With Me. Notably, the non-binary singer altered the song’s lyrics, adding the word “boy” when singing about the track’s love interest. Meanwhile, Lauper performed her 1986 ballad True Colours. Watch both performances below.
Lauper also addressed the crowds as part of Biden’s official press briefing. “We can rest easy tonight because our families are validated,” the longtime LGBTQ+ ally said. “This time, love wins. Everyone deserves to bask in the magical blessing of building a union with the person you love.” Lauper concluded her statement by thanking Biden “for allowing people not to worry and their children not to worry about their future.”
Singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun also performed as part of the ceremony. Smith’s appearance at the singing marks their latest landmark gain in the LGBTQ space, following their history-making debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts in October. Their Kim Petras-assisted single Unholy marked the first time two openly non-binary and trans solo artists achieved the top spot in the chart’s history.
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Elsewhere this year, Smith revealed that he’d been gifted a 6-foot tall, marble statue of a penis by fellow artist Ed Sheeran. Lauper, meanwhile, announced plans for an Australian tour, co-headlined by Rod Stewart, throughout March and April of next year.
