Happy Hippie will help youths

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

When Miley Cyrus wears pasties or posts photos of her pink armpits, it’s not to be a provocateur. The 22-year-old says she’s just being herself, and she wants young people to have that opportunity.

That’s why she’s launching Happy Hippie Foundation to help homeless and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths, adding that not all her past relationships were “straight, heterosexual” ones. She didn’t elaborate.

“The position I’m in, I feel like I’ve got a lot of power,” she said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “But so many kids don’t feel that way. They’re under their parents’ rule.”

Cyrus, who famously asked a homeless man to accept her Video of the Year trophy at the 2014 Video Music Awards, said she was inspired by the attention generated by that gesture. And she further was moved by the suicide of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn in December. More than 1.6 million young people are homeless in the United States, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Cyrus said 40 percent identify themselves as LGBT.

An entertainer since age 14, she wants to use her fame for good, calling Bruce Jenner “my hero” for shining light on transgender issues.

Cyrus is passionate about issues, from climate change to animal welfare, but said she chose to focus on youth homelessness because it’s specific and tangible.

“It’s something that everyone sees,” she said. “It’s like the birds chirping. We’re consciously ignoring it at all times, but it’s always happening right in front of us.”

She plans to remain focused on increasing acceptance for LBGT youths and improving homeless kids’ lives for at least five years before broadening her scope.

“It’s not going to be an overnight process,” she said.

Funds raised by Happy Hippie will create digital support groups for LGBT youths and their families.

The foundation is aiding My Friend’s Place, a homeless youth center in Hollywood.

To launch the Happy Hippie Foundation and raise money and awareness for its programs, she’s unveiling a collection of music-video collaborations with artists such as Joan Jett and Ariana Grande.

Backyard Sessions are available on the foundation’s Facebook page.