Hayley Kiyoko discussed the nuances of queer coding in pop culture while promoting her first feature-film directorial effort, "Girls Like Girls" [1].
Kiyoko's transition from musician to director highlights a growing trend of LGBTQ+ artists taking creative control over their narratives. By translating a successful musical anthem into a cinematic coming-of-age romance, she is expanding the visibility of lesbian storytelling in mainstream media.
During a series of virtual interviews conducted this week, including a segment for Variety, Kiyoko identified specific behaviors and cultural staples that she considers queer-coded. She said that pop music, staying friends with an ex, and eye contact can all be queer-coded [1].
The upcoming film is based on her song of the same name, which has garnered over 150 million Spotify streams [2]. While some critics have interpreted the original song as a narrative about a girl taking a partner from a man, Kiyoko said the track was an "'I Want' song for lesbian manifestation" [3].
Kiyoko collaborated with Maya de Costa and Myra Molloy to bring the project to the screen [1]. She said they wanted to capture the queer yearning that has always been present in the original song [1].
The project marks a significant pivot for the U.S. singer-songwriter and actress. By focusing on the specific emotional markers of queer identity, such as the aforementioned eye contact, Kiyoko aims to create a film that resonates with the specific experiences of the LGBTQ+ community while remaining accessible to a wider audience [1].
“"I think pop music, staying friends with your ex, and eye contact can all be queer‑coded."”
Kiyoko's move into directing reflects a broader shift toward 'authored' queer cinema, where artists move beyond acting in roles to controlling the lens. By explicitly discussing 'queer coding,' she is highlighting how LGBTQ+ audiences find community and recognition through subtle signals in media when explicit representation is absent.
