50 Cent has had a pretty checkered past when it comes to his relationship with the LGBT community, but it seems like 50 is, once again, hitting a high note with his LGBT fans as news spreads that he’s going to be one of the headlining acts at an upcoming LGBT charity event.
According to the Huffington Post, 50 will join acts like Salt-N-Pepa and the Dixie Chicks as a part of the “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert, which will benefit Lauper’s True Colors Fund, an advocacy group for homeless LGBT youth.
“For far too long homeless youth have not received the attention, resources and funding necessary to bring an end to this epidemic,” Lauper said in a statement. “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.”
However, many are questioning why Lauper’s inclusion of 50 in the concert because of his troubling history of homophobia. Back in 2004, 50 told Playboy magazine that he doesn’t like “f——s” and in recent years he’s taken homophobic jabs at Diddy, Steve Stoute and even Perez Hilton.
However, it’s also worth noting that 50 has made progressive strides in his stance on sexuality. 50, whose own mother was gay, backed President Obama when he revealed his support for same-sex marriage. And 50 has also shown his support for out artist Frank Ocean. Last year, 50 mentored a transgender teen on an episode of “Dream School.”
Well, 50 may have been on the wrong side of the equality debate in the past, but it’s good to know that he’s progressed enough to work to create funding for underserved LGBT youth. – nicholas robinson
