Although the issue is personal for her — Lauper’s sister Ellen is a lesbian — Lauper tried to keep things light. “I was going to be a nun, but they wouldn’t have me,” she said. “I don’t know what they thought was wrong with Sister Sin.”

She then joked that she’s always supported the gay pride movement “because, you know, I love parades.”

Sporting a short, bleached-blonde cut, the pop princess said she got involved because “when I grew up, I saw the civil rights movement, and I saw white people stand up for black people and say, ‘This is wrong.’ I’m here as one of the first guys — I mean, people — to stand up and say, ‘I’m straight for equality.’ ”

When a couple of questions turned political, Lauper did her best to stay out of the partisan fray. “I’m a rock and roller, I’m not a politician,” she said.

Lauper also announced a second edition of her True Colors Tour for 2008 to support gay causes.

On Saturday, “Dear Abby” columnist Jeanne Phillips will receive the group’s first Straight for Equality Award at its gala dinner.