A tween tweeting isn’t news. The biggest tween star in the universe tweeting her support for gay rights is great news. On Tuesday, Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus tweeted about her love for gays and lesbians. Talk about the Mouse that roared.
The Disney darling who grew up in a devout Christian family sent out her support in a Twitter exchange with celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton. In a series of tweets, the 16-year-old superstar expressed her sadness over the high suicide rates among gay and lesbian youths and professed her belief that Jesus loves everyone — gay and straight — the same.
Wow. Look, I don’t think much or really at all about Miley because, hello, totally not my demographic. But I do think her comments were cool, classy and possibly even courageous. Miley’s Hannah Montana movie opened at No. 1 at the box office earlier this month and its soundtrack reached No. 1 this week on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts. In short, the girl is popular.
So given her astronomical appeal with the tween and younger set, her public show of solidarity with gays and lesbians could have immense and immeasurable impact. Which, in turn, is just all sorts of awesome. Wait, do the kids still say awesome?
Miley’s tweet-and-forth with Perez came after the gossip blogger made headlines over the weekend for asking Miss California a question about gay marriage during the Miss USA Pageant. The contestant’s rambly answer about “same-sex” and “opposite marriage” included her assertion that marriage should be between a man and a woman, “no offense to anyone.” Oh, gee, none taken.
So thanks, Miley. If you keep this kind of support up you’ve ensured yourself a dedicated fanbase who will never outgrow you. Seriously, you can’t shake the gays. Just ask Liza.
