TL;DR
- Hayley Kiyoko knew she was a lesbian at five.
- She felt societal pressure to hide her identity.
- Kiyoko lacked visible LGBTQ+ role models growing up.
- She has become a queer pop icon with her music.
- Kiyoko’s journey reflects broader LGBTQ+ experiences.
In a candid chat on Jenna Ushkowitz and Kara Wang’s podcast, Undefinable, Hayley Kiyoko opened up about her early awareness of her sexuality. Can you believe she knew she was a lesbian at just five or six? Talk about early self-discovery! But, as is often the case, societal pressures kept her in the closet until her 20s, a struggle many LGBTQ+ individuals can relate to.
Kiyoko shared, “For me, I knew I was a lesbian. I didn’t know the term, but I knew when I was five or six, so, pretty early on, I was like, ‘I have to hide who I am.’” The pressure of conforming to a heteronormative narrative loomed large, even in her artistic and supportive family. Despite the encouragement surrounding her, she felt stifled, unable to express her true self. “But it was interesting that I didn’t feel comfortable expressing who I was to my family, … because of the societal pressures of just the heteronormative narrative, I [just] didn’t,” she reflected.
What’s even more poignant is Kiyoko’s acknowledgment of the lack of visible LGBTQ+ role models during her formative years. “I didn’t know any queer gay out people. I didn’t know the term gay, but I was like, ‘ohh, I like girls’ and people don’t like girls. That was the narrative I had in my brain.” Can you imagine navigating your identity without anyone to look up to? It’s a reality that many in the LGBTQ+ community face, and Kiyoko’s story shines a light on this issue.
As a half-Asian woman, Kiyoko also felt the sting of underrepresentation. “There weren’t a lot of people who looked like me. Maybe one.” Yet, she broke through the noise as a queer pop artist, crafting songs and videos that center on women-loving-women narratives. Her music resonates deeply with lesbian and sapphic audiences, making her a beacon of hope and representation in pop culture.
With hits like ‘Girls Like Girls’, Kiyoko has solidified her status as a modern lesbian icon, affectionately dubbed ‘Lesbian Jesus’ by her fans. Her journey is not just about music; it’s about representation, visibility, and the power of living one’s truth. As she continues to inspire through her art and personal life, including her engagement to Becca Tilley, Kiyoko remains a touchstone for fans navigating their own journeys of self-acceptance.
In a world that often tries to silence LGBTQ+ voices, Hayley Kiyoko’s story is a reminder of the importance of representation and the courage it takes to live authentically. Her journey reflects the broader experiences of many in the LGBTQ+ community, proving that while the path to self-acceptance can be fraught with challenges, it’s also filled with the possibility of love, joy, and empowerment.
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