Hayley Kiyoko wins at the VMAs and 20GayTeen is alive and well

21 Aug 2018

Anya's feminist icons are Leslie Knope and Lauren Bacall. When…

Hayley Kiyoko aka Lesbian Jesus won Push Artist of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards last night, proving 20GayTeen is alive and well.

The Push Artist of the Year is a new category highlighting emerging artists. Kiyoko beat several other artists like Grace VanderWaal, Noah Cyrus, SZA, and more.

IT'S 20GAYTEEN 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

YOUR GIRL @HayleyKiyoko JUST WON A FREAKING #VMA for PUSH Artist of THE YEAR. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/CwFftAcNLc

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 21, 2018

When Kiyoko won the award before the actual show started, she was equal parts ecstatic, emotional, and grateful.

‘You’re gonna make me cry!’ she exclaimed as she went up to accept the award. ‘I haven’t even met the famous people yet!’

She dedicated her speech to queer women of color and her fans in a moving and progressive moment.

‘This validates any queer women of color that you can follow your dreams,’ she said as she held up the award.

‘And I love my fans. My fans gave this to us. We did it! 20GayTeen! 20GayTeen!’

She also performed her single Curious at the show.

We are LIVING for @HayleyKiyoko's performance of Curious. Did you see those moves? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/CDBfftThju

— MTV (@MTV) August 21, 2018

A Big Mood

Fans loved both Kiyoko’s win and her energy.

https://twitter.com/lesbihayley/status/1031845168725536773

https://twitter.com/Ryan1_Brown8/status/1031703171964592128

https://twitter.com/Forsaken_donut/status/1031714528319422464

https://twitter.com/lesbihayley/status/1031710359923707905

IM SO PROUD OF YOU @HayleyKiyoko THANK YOU FOR BEING A VOICE FOR QUEER WOMEN OF COLOR I LOVE U SO MUCH AHHHH

— KITTENS (@iamKITTENS) August 21, 2018

They weren’t so happy, however, that Kiyoko lost out on Best New Artist to Cardi B.

i really shouldn’t be surprised that hayley kiyoko, a lesbian who is an advocate for the entire lgbt+ community, lost to cardi b, a known homophobic + transphobic piece of garbage, but i’m still so fucking disappointed

— maddie (@rainbowens) August 21, 2018

hayley kiyoko raised billions for the lgbt she deserved that award #hayleywasrobbed pic.twitter.com/cseOuZIlt3

— di (@milesfairchlds) August 21, 2018

me (during sex): hurt me

them: Hayley Kiyoko (lesbian Jesus, "20gayteen") lost to Cardi B (transphobe)

me:

them: Panic! at the Disco (who is just Brendon Urie) lost to Imagine Dragons

me: stop

— finley ↯ leo love bot (@LlKEITORNOT) August 21, 2018