The pop star known as “Lesbian Jesus” talks about the art that inspires her.
In her own actor’s line , the dad star Hayley Kiyoko is a " massive gay woman . " To her fans , she ’s " Lesbian Jesus . " As a player , she ’s unabashedly herself , publish love songs with female pronouns and letting her own queerness presume center phase . Take , for instance , the self - directed video for " For the Girls , " the third I off her upcoming record album , which puts a gay spin on theBachelorfranchise .
Kiyoko started her career as a member of a girl mathematical group called The Stunners , all the while act in the Disney Channel’sWizards of Waverly PlaceandLemonade Mouth . But she really broke out in 2015 when she released the Sung dynasty " girl Like Girls , " and her status as a hopeful , gay light of pop was cemented with her 2018 albumExpectations . In honor of Pride Month and in prediction ofPanorama , which features songs like " Chance " and " cryptical in the Woods , " Thrillist spoke with Kiyoko about her formative touchstones .
Stevie Wonder, No Doubt, and Pink
I was really inspired by mass that were very unique and bluff with who they were . I consider the struggle was I did n’t really have a homophile icon per se in my adolescence . But I loved Stevie Wonder because he told these incredible , wonderful , visual tale with his music . And I was inspired by Gwen Stefani and No doubtfulness because she was just authentically herself and she was also a tomboy . I loved Pink . I really look up to the artist that were open with who they were and did n’t meet the precise average of how we should present and how we should raiment .
Coming out in the music world
The thing that sparked me the most was this conversation I had with my co - author Lily May - Young when I was writing music with her . It was raining outdoors , and she was like , " What are you most afraid of expressing ? " She was the first person I came out to in the music earth and vista . That was this epiphany present moment of " why am I not sharing my genuine true statement ? " That was a turning point for me . So that was my movie or idiot box moment where I was like , " Hey , maybe I should share who I am , and why am I holding back ? What am I waiting for ? " That was the twenty-four hours we write " Girls Like Girls . " That was the present moment . And I think that was in my early XX . I ’ve write songs since I was 5 , and I always used male pronouns . And even in the comfort of my own bedroom and the comfort of my own journal , I was afraid someone was kick the bucket to read it . I was never true to myself with who I wanted to really sing about . So that was a liberal sight for me .
Carol
I ’ve always been cheering any type of queer representation in the film and television place , and I intend we ’re getting more and more . We still need more , but I am always soothe to see that theatrical start to really come about in a mainstream direction . I sleep together the movieCarol — that was one of my favorite movies that number out . I ’ve just always starve more . And I ’ve always crave to create thing that I ’ve always wanted to watch or listen to . There ’s been such a breach cakehole for me , just as a queer woman of color trying to get hold on the button who I am and incisively why my journey has always been hard . That ’s always been a neat motivator for me to conduct my music videos and to hopefully head features and television system .
Reality TV
I love all those dating shows . I just love reality television , and I desire to see multitude like me up there as well . I do n’t know why we do n’t have that agency , because homophile the great unwashed are everywhere and we are mainstream . And so I was really urge to create a medicine TV for " For the lady friend " where anyone could find love . Directing this euphony video was a dream occur dependable , as was casting the contestants . We had rum people in front of the camera , behind the television camera . I reckon I was so surprised by how much in - person front I needed from the faggot community , because we ’ve been in isolation and have been plug into with each other on the internet , and texting , and Zooming and all this hooey . But just being physically with people that have like experience and feeling that community of interests was the great gift ever . It prompt me of when my fans tell me how tremendous it is to go to my concert and what a safe space it feels like . I was feel that on my own music video shoot , like , gosh , this just feels like oxygen . This feels veracious , and I feel like I can truly be myself . Every unmarried individual , I believe , feel very similarly . It was an unbelievable shoot , and it was so fun because we did multi - cam the way we charge it . I was just like , " Wow , should I get into realism ? This is so much fun . "
Tegan and Sara and Lance Bass
Tegan and Sara were a huge influence on me and assist normalize my feelings . I think Lance Bass coming out , for veridical , when that take place , that was a big moment for me too . It ’s been a culmination of many moments . Many moments of standardisation that had led me to truly love myself and be who I am today . And so I think that it ’s so important for people to encourage one another to have a safe space , to be their veritable ego , because every exclusive branch on that tree is leading to someone full come forth .
Being “Lesbian Jesus”
At the fourth dimension , I did n’t know that nickname was going to stick , and it ’s really stuck to the level of it being in the Urban Dictionary . I ’m so thankful for my fans because they have made me sense so normalized and seen and celebrated . I just want them to find the same way . Growing up , I did n’t feel that room . There ’s always going to be challenge . Life is going to be hard . But why not make life a small light and support one another and deal our struggle and our triumph and our experiences with one another to help bring ease to someone else ’s journeying ? I do n’t really have an answer to what Lesbian Jesus mean to me now . To me , it just feel like a expectant clinch from my fan . And I finger celebrated for being my true , authentic self , which is a monumental lesbian .
Design by Mallory Rosten for Thrillist
