Hayley Kiyoko on Turning ‘Girls Like Girls’ Into a Film, Queer Representation, and Her Life’s Work

Lesbian Jesus returns! Last year Hayley Kiyoko popped in to discuss her sophomore book, ‘Where There’s Room For Us,’ and she promised she’d return to discuss her debut feature length film ‘Girls Like Girls’ which started its life as a song (back in 2015), became a groundbreaking music video, evolved into a New York Times bestselling novel, and has now arrived on the big screen.

Hayley opens up about why this story has become her life's work, the emotional journey of bringing it to theaters, and how scenes from the film were pulled directly from her own experiences. We also dive into the healing power of representation, fan reactions from fans, and why telling authentic LGBTQ+ stories feels as important as ever.

Hayley also discusses assembling the film's all-female department heads, casting the film’s leads Maya Da Costa as Coley and Myra Malloy as Sonya, working alongside Zach Braff, and creating a soundtrack packed with artists including Young Miko, Tegan and Sara, and Gigi Perez. Plus: AIM screen names, scoliosis, the real-life inspiration behind the story, filming just blocks from her grandmother's house, and the full-circle feeling of hearing “Girls Like Girls" reimagined with a 30-piece orchestra. After a decade of work, this conversation gets emotional in all the right ways.

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