Hayley Kiyoko came out as a lesbian to help ‘normalise’ sexuality for other people
Hayley Kiyoko attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards on August 20, 2018 in New York City (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
Singer-songwriter Hayley Kiyoko has reportedly said that she came out as a lesbian in a bid to “normalise” her sexuality.
Kiyoko explained that she initially did not want to put a label on her sexuality, but decided to do so after realising that it could help other people.
“I didn’t want a label at all, but once I released my music, there was this out pour of support for the fact that I did like girls,” Kiyoko said on Thursday (August 8), reports Hollywood.com.
“I learned that by embracing my label as a lesbian, I was helping normalise that for so many other people.”
By embracing my label as a lesbian, I helped “normalise” my sexuality, says Hayley Kiyoko
Kiyoko, who was speaking at a panel for the Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter’s Pride Summit on Thursday (August 8), added that she sometimes get worried that she is not doing enough for the LGBT+ community.
“Sometimes you get overwhelmed: I’m not doing enough, I’m not saying enough,” she explained.
I learned that by embracing my label as a lesbian, I was helping normalise that for so many other people.
“I just focus on keeping people alive.
“If you can inspire hope and give light when people are in that darkness, they will help you make this world a better place.”
Hayley Kiyoko: “I just focus on keeping people alive”
The 28-year-old star, who has been dubbed “lesbian jesus” by fans, released her debut solo album Expectations in March 2018.
The singer has been dubbed “Lesbian Jesus” by fans. (Randy Shropshire/Getty)
The singer is an outspoken supporter of LGBT+ rights.
In January this year, she revealed in an interview that she was encouraged to “tone down” her sexuality earlier on in her career.
Speaking to i-D Magazine, she added: “I don’t like to play it safe. I like to make a statement.
“My sexuality, loving myself and expressing my love for others is not something that’s negotiable.
“There’s no toning that down because this is who I am and this is what I experience. I can’t change that.”
