Hayley Kiyoko on struggling to come out in her 20s: "I knew I was a lesbian when I was five" - Queerty

"I knew I was a lesbian... I have to hide who I am. I'm one of the very few, or if not only, half Asian people in my life, trying to navigate that."

"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 didn't know anyone. There weren't a lot of people who looked like me. Maybe one. 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."

Navigating identity as a half Asian lesbian presented unique challenges. Early awareness of sexual orientation was met with societal pressures to conform to heteronormative standards. Growing up in an artistic family provided encouragement for self-expression, yet comfort in revealing true identity was lacking. Limited representation and knowledge of queer individuals contributed to feelings of isolation. The journey to self-acceptance extended into adulthood, highlighting the complexities of personal and cultural identity.

Read at Queerty