MILEY CYRUS ON HER GAY MARRIAGE TATTOO

Pop star Miley Cyrus has explained why she chose to have a symbol supporting same-sex marriage rights tattooed on her finger.

Last year the 19-year-old singer and actress tweeted a picture of the small tattoo of the equals sign and commented “ALL LOVE is equal.”

Writing in a new article for Glamour magazine Cyrus defended the tattoo and her stance on marriage equality.

“Imagine finding someone you love more than anything in the world, who you would risk your life for but couldn’t marry. And you couldn’t have that special day the way your friends do—you know, wear the ring on your finger and have it mean the same thing as everybody else,” Cyrus wrote.

“Just put yourself in that person’s shoes. It makes me feel sick to my stomach.”

She also revealed that she was surprised by the backlash she received because of the tattoo.

“A lot of people mocked me—they said, ‘What happened to you? You used to be a Christian girl!’ And I said, ‘Well, if you were a true Christian, you would have your facts straight. Christianity is about love,'” she wrote.

Cyrus went on to say: “I believe every American should be allowed the same rights and civil liberties. Without legalized same-sex marriage, most of the time you cannot share the same health benefits, you are not considered next of kin and you are not granted the same securities as a heterosexual couple. How is this different than having someone sit in the back of the bus because of their skin color?”

“We all should be tolerant of one another and embrace our differences. My dad [country singer Billy Ray Cyrus], who is a real man’s man, lives on the farm and is as Southern and straight as they come. He loves my gay friends and even supports same-sex marriage. If my father can do it, anyone can.

“This is America, the nation of dreams. We’re so proud of that. And yet certain people are excluded. It’s just not right.”

According to reports, for her new film LOL Cyrus shared a lesbian kiss with actress Ashley Hinshaw.