Miley Cyrus Steps Up for LGBT Homeless

Miley Cyrus is no stranger to causing a stir, but at last year's Video Music Awards, she did it for a cause.

When Jimmy Fallon announced that she won video of the year for "Wrecking Ball," rather than getting on stage, she sat on the edge while a young man with shoulder-length blond hair went up. He told the crowd that his name is Jesse, and he is one 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the U.S.

Cyrus cried while he told his story, his hands shaking as he read from note cards, Fallon helping him hold the microphone, and implored the audience to give to help.

Little did anyone know that was a precursor to a movement. Recently, the songstress announced that she has launched the Happy Hippie Foundation (HappyHippies.org), a nonprofit working with homeless teens, LGBT youth, and other at-risk populations.

"Every life is valuable and we should make sure those who question their value feel protected," Cyrus wrote in an op-ed on her website. "Change is what we need and what young people are counting on! Living a life untrue to who you really are makes life unbearable for human beings with feelings and emotions?-?like love, maybe the greatest one of them."

On the site, a list of LGBT organizations are listed as resources, including Covenant House, GLAAD, National Center for Transgender Equality, The Trevor Project, and the True Colors Fund.

A representative from Happy Hippie Foundation declined an interview with South Florida Gay News, saying, "Due to timing and other commitments, we respectfully decline this opportunity."

The award speech:

Miley Cyrus talks after the win:

Cyrus is no stranger to LGBT causes - she posed for NOH8's photo campaign in 2011, and the following year, showed her support for same-sex marriage by getting an equal sign tattooed on her finger. In a piece she wrote for Glamour magazine, she wrote how she can't bring herself to shop at Urban Outfitters after discovering the CEO allegedly donated to Rick Santorum. When Disney Channel's television show "Good Luck Charlie" introduced a lesbian couple into the cast, she tweeted her approval with multiple heart emojis and exclamation marks.