Miley Cyrus Launches #InstaPride Campaign to Encourage Trans Youth

Miley Cyrus introduced the #InstaPride Campaign to show support for her LGBT fans. Cyrus, in cooperation with the Happy Hippie Foundation and Instagram, aims "to share stories of transgender and gender expansive people from around the country," according to her Instagram post Monday.

 

A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on

Jun 15, 2015 at 6:02am PDT

The campaign's two-week run kicked off with Leo, a 19-year-old college student from Michigan.

 

A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on

 

Jun 15, 2015 at 6:01am PDT

Leo identifies himself as a trans man and also, a self-confessed Gleek, feminist and a Netflix fan.

 

“I spent so much of my life uncomfortable with who I was and afraid to move because I didn’t want to stand out any more than I already did. This last year as I’ve been transitioning, there’ve been a lot of moments when I truly felt free to be myself: the moment I woke up from top surgery, the day the bandages came off, my first shot of testosterone. Sometimes, I’ll be out in public with my family or just hanging around with friends, and I remember that I’m no longer having to hide anything about who I am. I’m not afraid to move anymore and I know who I am. Everything about me right now is exactly as it should be.” - @isupersheng #happyhippiepresents #instapride @happyhippiefdn

A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on

Jun 15, 2015 at 6:00am PDT

Leo revealed how he transitioned on Cyrus' Instagram, and how it's allowed him to feel truly free. In the post, he said, "This last year as I’ve been transitioning, there’ve been a lot of moments when I truly felt free to be myself: the moment I woke up from top surgery, the day the bandages came off, my first shot of testosterone."

In an interview with Time magazine, Cyrus said, "Anyone should be able to express how they feel, without question, and be able to live," Miley added. "I can stand on a stage with my tits out. It's so unfair that I'm allowed to be like this and there are two men that can't get married in fucking Nashville right now."

Time magazine also shared some of the photos taken by Miley herself for the #InstaPride campaign.

Cheers to you, Miley! Now, go and twerk out your awesomeness.

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