Hayley Kiyoko to receive Trevor Project award for her LGBT advocacy
Hayley Kiyoko will receive The Trevor Project’s Youth Innovator Award for her LGBT+ advocacy, at the charity’s biannual fundraising gala TrevorLIVE.
Often dubbed the “lesbian Jesus,” Kiyoko will be presented the award on November 17 for “using her voice in the music industry to shine a light on marginalised communities” and being a role model to young LGBT+ people.
The music video for her 2016 song ‘One Bad Night’ highlighted violence against trans women, and when bras were thrown as her on stage during her Expectations tour she donated them to homeless queer youth and women.
According to Billboard, The Trevor Project’s CEO Amit Paley said: “The Trevor Project knows how important it is for LGBTQ young people to see themselves and their identities represented by inspiring young artists like Hayley Kiyoko.
“Hayley embraces her identity as a strength, serving as a role model for LGBTQ youth around the world – we’re so excited to honour her at TrevorLIVE LA and celebrate 21 years of saving young LGBTQ lives.”
Kiyoko also told Billboard: “Through songwriting and directing music videos, I have been able to share my personal experiences of love and identity with an audience that has struggled with mainstream representation in pop music over the years
“I’m honoured to be recognized by The Trevor Project, an organisation that’s helping to bridge the isolation youth feel in crisis.
“Growing up I felt the isolation of being different so I am beyond grateful for the work they do because creating a safe space can truly help people feel less alone.”
Kiyoko said earlier this year that although she did not originally want to put a label on her sexuality, she came out as a lesbian to help “normalise” it and help others.
She said: “I learned that by embracing my label as a lesbian, I was helping normalise that for so many other people.”