Miley Cyrus might not initially be who you’d expect to be rallying for gay rights. (Although we did see her at Dinah Shore one year, so maybe she is?) Yet despite her Disney Channel beginnings and country western parentage, Cyrus has not fallen prey to oppressive “traditional family values” and instead stands up for what she believes in and also conveniently believes in marriage equality. Maybe it was all those Hanna Montana songs about being true to yourself. Last July 29th, Cyrus tweeted “All LOVE is equal” with a picture of her new tattoo, an equal sign on her right ring finger and sparked a twitter fan war when one fan disagreed.
Though Cyrus has been no stranger to controversy as of late, this particular bump was not an issue of dress or behavior, but a small tattooed statement of equality. There was no apologetic press conference to let down fans. Thank God. This week Cyrus took to Glamour Magazine’s website to defend marriage equality and explain the whole thing.
From Miley’s article:
Imagine finding someone you love more than anything in the world, who you would risk your life for but couldn’t marry. And you couldn’t have that special day the way your friends do—you know, wear the ring on your finger and have it mean the same thing as everybody else. Just put yourself in that person’s shoes. It makes me feel sick to my stomach… I believe every American should be allowed the same rights and civil liberties. Without legalized same-sex marriage, most of the time you cannot share the same health benefits, you are not considered next of kin and you are not granted the same securities as a heterosexual couple. How is this different than having someone sit in the back of the bus because of their skin color?
Cyrus’s explanation came off as candid and honest, perhaps due to her close relationship with at least one occasionally mentioned gay friend. There were a few moments where she missed the mark a bit, and it gets a bit odd when she brings up her father being “a real man’s man,” but overall I was impressed.
I feel hesitant to criticize Cyrus if she wants to rally her legions of fans around marriage equality, but I have to wonder what compelled her to follow up on her tattoo over six months later. I imagine some of the delay was in the time it takes to negotiate, write and publish a magazine article in Glamour, but I can’t help wondering if the timing wasn’t related to, ahem, publicity.
Yup, Miley Cyrus has a new song out on the charity album Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International and even promoted it on Ellen! To be honest, I found out about it while looking in to Cyrus’s Glamour article. To be extra honest I’ve already downloaded it. So yes, maybe Cyrus’s Glamour article wasn’t Miley just being Miley. Maybe there was a slight intention to boost her own public profile, but I don’t think that changes anything. I’m happy to live in a world where celebrities use defending civil rights as a means to bump their publicity. I, personally, have absolutely zero qualms about pop stars timing their promotion of equality as long as they’re promoting it at all. In fact, with the exception of the phrase, “Dude, everyone lay off” I think Cyrus’s article shows the same calm and maturity as her new song. Besides, she couldn’t have timed this:
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go Official Music Video:
Okay this article just raised my opinion of Miley by several notches!
Yes I agree!
I had to work with her once..I couldn’t leave the studio so she brought me coffee and chocolate chip cookies and she sat on the floor and snuggled my dog while we chatted..Completely unrelated, I know, but it endeared her to me and I can’t bring myself to think of her in any way other than sweet and kind. This only further proves it for me
That’s a cool story. Miley reminds of what Pink said about Britney to be honest. She just seems that way. I can never really know, of course, but yeah: “You know, I know Britney and I think she’s sweet as apple pie. she’s the all-American southern girl. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
This is the best story ever. I am so happy.
theory: best friend leslie is more than just a best friend
She always said that her grandfather had a huge influence on her growing up. And he was a Democrat politician and it seems she may be more to his side of politics rather than her father’s. I’ve always liked Miley. She’s a couple of years younger than me but idk she seems cool. I have a few of her songs (guilty pleasure) but I remember in high school we had our school’s annual ‘Celebrate the Saint who our school is named after’ day and we (Yr 12’s) blasted ‘The Climb’ from the stereo in the school courtyard and the whole school sang along and it was just really fun. I also like husky singing voices cause I have a husky voice lol.
So semi-related: Dad I were listening to Britney’s Baby One More Time album and I was said, “This is 13 years old now” and dad was all “NO WAY.”
“The Climb” helped me come out the closet.
#truestory
I’m noddin’ my head like yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeaaah, there is a party in the USA.
Sooooo I am not the only one who read too much into Miley’s “Can’t be tamed,” riiiight?
I’m just really mad at her for trying to sing You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome…
“I’m happy to live in a world where celebrities use defending civil rights as a means to bump their publicity.”
This. Also I love Can’t Be Tamed and I am not even sorry.
I no longer feel guilty (as much) about liking that thunder and lightning song of hers.
…OH WAIT, that was that Selena Gomez girl, never mind then.
But yes, respect points shall be given.
Wow, this definitely changed my opinions on her, thats GREAT!
I think its good she’s coming into her own and branching out from Disney, and a conservative setting :)
I have no idea how I feel about the rest of it, but her cover of You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go is so beautiful it makes me a little shaky inside. Then again, I’ve always had a weakness for that song…
I love her and hope she continues to talk about Marriage Equality-even if the timing is calculated. I will happily take the roses with the thorns. Yuck yuck.
I no longer have to feel guilty about loving Party in the USA.
Or if I do, it’s because I’m Canadian.
Whenever my friends mentioned how much they liked her I felt like puking up blood but this is amazing!!!!! Cheers to her and for not bowing down to le homophobics. And for getting the tattoo of course.
She’s not fourteen anymore!! Where has the time gone?!
On a different note, I love this.
Now I wonder if anyone took the cherry from her icecream slide
I always theorized her songs “Best of Both Worlds” and “Other Side of Me” were about bisexuality.
But in all seriousness, this girl is pretty awesome. I had mixed feelings about her putting her own marijuana smoking habits on blast but she’s an adult, and an independent, strong-minded one at that. I hope she continues to do great things for herself and others.