With ‘Girls Like Girls,’ Hayley Kiyoko Turns Her Teenage Pain Into Art
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- In June 2015, Hayley Kiyoko released her song "Girls Like Girls" just two days before same-sex marriage was federally recognized in the U.S.
- At 24, Kiyoko transitioned from her Disney Channel acting career to releasing an explicitly lesbian-themed song, despite having only come out privately.
- Kiyoko cited the negative backlash Ellen DeGeneres faced after coming out in 1997 as a reason she feared being openly authentic in her career.
- The release marked a significant moment for Kiyoko in embracing her identity publicly through her music.
