Teenage Kicks®

Celebrating Pride Icons

by Mac Wilson

June 07, 2025

  Play Now [2:00:36]
A 1980s still photo of Cyndi Lauper featured in 'Let The Canary Sing,' streaming on Paramount+, 2024.
A 1980s still photo of Cyndi Lauper featured in 'Let The Canary Sing,' streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Laurie Paladino/Paramount+

It's officially Pride Month, and Saturday morning, Teenage Kicks is celebrating the icons who paved the way. Punk and New Wave musicians who were early supporters of the LGBTQ+ community. It was a groundbreaking time in music, artists like Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Joan Jett, K.D. Lang, and Prince came forward, came out and became part of the culture and conversation on sexuality and life with songs of joy, activism, inclusion and community.

Program Playlist, hour 1
Program Playlist, hour 2

Gallery
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Prince
Prince
© Paisley Park Enterprises | Photographer: Randee St. Nicholas
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Culture Club, 1980s
circa 1988: British pop group Culture Club, fronted by singer Boy George, left; the other members are Michael Craig, Roy Hay and Jon Moss.
Keystone/Getty Images
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Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Mick Rock / Blackheart Records / MCA
Celebrating Pride Icons