Every time Miley Cyrus makes an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards, she seems to make headlines. In 2013, she turned heads after twerking onstage in a nude bikini during her jaw-dropping performance of "We Can't Stop"/"Blurred Lines." Last year, she brought attention to a good cause after she had a friend accept her award for Video of the Year and make a speech on youth homelessness.
After confirming her place within the LGBT spectrum last Friday, Cyrus became the first pansexual host in VMA history, and it was causing quite a positive storm among the many attendees at last night's ceremony in downtown Los Angeles.
The Advocate stopped by the VMA red carpet Sunday, and asked our some of our favorite celebrities to give us their best impression of their most-used emoji. And then we got serious, asking the stars about Cyrus's hosting duties, and what it's like to finally get big LGBT exposure at a mainstream event.
"I love that it's gotten to a point where so many people are accepting, especially in the media at least," said popular gay YouTuber and last year's 40 Under 40 cover star,Tyler Oakley. "Representation matters. For people at home who are in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of America that feel like they're probably alone... to see the host of one of the biggest shows on TV be representation for them, that's huge!"
"We're so excited to see Miley host the whole thing," said Austin Rhodes (left) of the the Rhodes Bros, who were at the VMAs for the first time ever.
Both twin brothers were excited to see Cyrus represent the LGBT community on the VMA stage.
"Society is definitely moving forward, especially with our community, and I love being a part of it, and I love being a part of change," said his twin brother Aaron (right), who like Austin is gay.
"I feel like in order to be fully integrated into society, we need to have these conversations and be doing these kinds of events where there is no separation of community," said the gay star of MTV's LGBT-centric comedy Faking It, Michael J. Willett, when asked what he thought of Cyrus hosting the VMAs. "It's just about humanity."
This year was also the first VMA ceremony for Austin Butler,star of the upcoming MTV series The Shannara Chronicles. "It feels like a piece of history, it's really cool," he said about Cyrus hosting. "I respect Miley so much. Her ability to just be fearless, it's really cool."
Rebecca Black, the teen singer who shot to fame with her 2011 song "Friday," is a VMA regular, and part of a whole generation of young people who embrace people no matter what their sexual orientation might be -- and she readily expressed that on the red carpet in support of Cyrus.
"I was born into a really accepting generation," she said. "To see people like her, it really promotes that and helps spread the word to garner more acceptance. It's amazing."
Among the VMA red carpet attendees was Carlson Young, one of the stars of the MTV revamp of the '90s horror movie Scream. Young thought it was cool to have Miley be the award show's first pansexual host, saying, "It's been a long time coming."
"I think she has a lot to express, and I'm excited to see her work it," she added.
More Scream cast members, Tom Maden (top) and John Karna (above), agreed Cyrus's hosting gig was something to be jazzed about.
"We're all really excited to see what she's going to bring," Karna said.
"I think her tongue is going to start her own acting career," Maden added.
Willett's Faking It costar Bailey De Young,who plays an intersex character on the show, thought Cyrus was a natural choice as host of the VMAs this year.
"I think it's great," she said, also citing how she learned more about the LGBT community through her work on her show. "I've had an amazing journey in getting to meet people and hear their stories."
"I think Miley has always been an advocate for just being exactly who she is," said 19-year-old Disney star Laura Marano. "Everyone in the world should never apologize for who they truly are."
Marano also said Cyrus's openness about her sexuality speaks to many issues related to LGBT youth. "Just be who you are, and don't be ashamed of it," she said. "You are who you are."
