Cyndi Lauper Giving a Damn
Perhaps the greatest
passer in NFL history,
Miami Dolphins legend
Dan Marino has attained equal greatness
off the field. In 1992,
after his young son,
Michael, was diagnosed with autism,
he started The Dan
Marino Foundation.
To date, the organization has raised more
than $32 million for a
state-of-the-art center for children with
developmental disabilities and for a vocational college scheduled
to open in fall 2012.
Michael, now 23, recently graduated from
college with a degree in
music production and
works as a DJ. “The
best way to attack autism” says Marino, 50,
today a CBS pregame
analyst,” is through early diagnosis, then
speech, physical, and
occupational therapy.”
—Jeffrey Ressner
Game Changer
Dan
Marino
Winning
Again
FATHER FIRST
Marino with Michael
in January 2011.
Nearly three decades af-
ter Cyndi Lauper declared
that “girls just want to have
fun,” the pop-music icon
has changed her tune: Girls
also want to help others.
While hard at work on her
autobiography, a Broadway
musical, and a reality show,
Lauper has launched the
Give a Damn Campaign.
She hopes to educate
of the same gender,” says
Lauper, 58, who is straight.
“The fear and misunder-
standing need to end.”
Q: Why are so many
homeless youths LGBT?
Sadly, many are on the
streets because their fami-
lies could not accept their
sexual orientation or
gender identity.
Q: How can parents or
grandparents of LGBT
youths offer support?
Accept your child or grand-
child if they come to you
questioning their sexuality
and identity. For help, go to
wegiveadamn.org.
Q: How are older LGBT
adults discriminated
against, and what can be
done to end it? Straight
married couples have
a safety net: When one
spouse passes away, the
other gets Social Security
survivor benefits. For a
gay couple, the surviving
partner doesn’t receive
a thing. We need to pass
legislation that recognizes
relationships between
LGB T adults.
—Fannie Weinstein
everyone—especially
straight people—about
issues affecting the lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgen-der community, including
the problem of homelessness among LGBT youth
and discrimination faced
by LGBT adults. “I have
many friends who face
discrimination daily
because they love someone
THE Media METER
MARGO MARTINDALE
The actress, 60, praised the virtue of patience
upon receiving an Emmy for her role on TV’s Justified:
“With time comes great appreciation. I could not have
appreciated anything like this had I been 30.”
12 AARP THE MAGAZINE / AARP. ORG
HOW TO SUPPORT
YOUR GAY CHILD
Find advice for parents and grandparents who
want to do the right thing, at
aarp.org/pride.
