Cyndi Lauper helps Luke and Noah celebrate Gay Pride with a special visit to "As the World Turns"

Yesterday I was dispatched on a top-secret mission in New York City ... to find Luke and Noah! Actually, given what's currently going on in the boys' storyline on As the World Turns, it was rather timely to be invited to the NYC studios yesterday to meet actors Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann and watch the taping of an appearance of a very special guest to Oakdale ...

Cyndi Lauper!

Yes, we're thrilled to be delivering the scoop that the pop legend will be making an appearance on the soap in connection with Luke and Noah. While I'm sworn to secrecy on the details, I can say that Lauper will be performing a few songs at Yo's, the Oakdale dive bar that for this particular occasion has been gussied up for a little celebration known as "Gay Pride".

Go ahead and re-read that if you like. Gay Pride. In Oakdale. Heck, on any soap! It was a complete trip to see the set festooned with rainbow flags and True Colors Tour posters and to watch Oakdale's Gay Finest (yes, there are more gays in the village!) whoop it up with Cyndi and the fellas. Luke interviews Cyndi for Oakdale U's paper and the boys enjoy a few performances.

I also got the chance to chat with Cyndi, Van, and Jake about the show and what's up with our beloved Alpha Gay Couple, but that will have to wait until closer to airdate (I also got to sit at Emma's kitchen table and pretend I was a houseguest at the Snyder Home for Wayward Gay Teens!). But I can say that it was amazing to see Cyndi play a part in this groundbreaking storyline, especially given how dedicated she has been to gay causes in recent years. Just last week I watched her perform at the NewNowNext Awards, and her second annual True Colors Tour starts this week in Boston, and there's no sign that she's slowing down anytime soon.

For now, be sure to check out Cyndi's new dance album Bring Ya to the Brink (it hit stores yesterday and is streaming on AOL as we speak), and be sure your rainbow flags are dusted off for the July 3rd episode of ATWT.