Hayley Kiyoko Says Being Gay Went From Her Biggest Weakness to Greatest Strength

by Jeff Taylor

3h ago

Hayley Kiyoko has not only learned to own being a member of the LGBTQ community, she has said it is now her greatest strength.

The pop star, known to her adoring fans as Lesbian Jesus, stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show recently to get personal about her journey to self-acceptance and self-love.

After discussing how she at first struggled with having to wear a back brace in middle school before eventually learning to make it work for her, as well as her attempts to start a band as a kid to no avail, she spoke about what it was like to realize she was gay at a young age.

“It’s interesting, because my biggest weakness growing up was that I was gay, and that I was different from everyone else, and now it’s become my biggest strength, because it’s empowered me,” Kiyoko said.

“I really feared growing up, because I was like, life is going to be so difficult and people are just not going to understand,” she recalled.

“Going into my music career, I was just like, if I’m scared everyone else will be. So, I have to embrace who I am, I have to be the brave one, because if I take that first step, everyone else will follow. And they will hopefully grow to feel inspired, and know that they can have a good life. They don’t have to commit suicide, they don’t have to not love themselves. They can be loved. It’s about all these incredible, powerful women—and just people in general—taking that first step and initiative to showcase that.”