Love, Simon Star Keiynan Lonsdale Releases New Queer Anthem 'Kiss The Boy'

Keiynan Lonsdale publicly came out as queer while filming Greg Berlanti's gay teen rom-com Love, Simon in Atlanta last spring. Since then, the sexually fluid actor — known for his portrayal of speedster Wally West in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow — has been candid about his journey, telling Out how he was "making decisions based on fear" before coming out.


"I was altering my personality and the photographs I'd put up on social media and the emojis I'd use —


every little thing," Lonsdale mentioned. "It was a full-time job. What that does is keep building shame, without you even realizing it."


Lonsdale addresses these feelings in his new song, "Kiss The Boy." The smooth, queer love song finds the 26-year-old lamenting, "I'm scared to show just how I feel 'cause people talk," before crooning, "You ain't gotta be afraid / Of the words you hope to mention now / 'Cause love is a game we deserve to play out loud."


"Honestly, I didn't come out to inspire others," Lonsdale told Out. "I did it for myself, however then, Whenever I realized the effect it had on other people, it became this cute thing. And I can go anywhere right now and be me. I'm an actor, a higher class musician, along with a higher class of person."


With out-and-proud lyrics like "Ain't gotta hide this heart of mine / I'm gonna fight just to let you know / To open your light and let it glow" it's clear that the anthemic single is Lonsdale at his most personalized and susceptible. And he joins openly queer pop artists like Troye Sivan, MNEK, and Hayley Kiyoko in using his music to honestly talk about his sexuality.


Lonsdale also revealed on Instagram that the single artwork — a pencil sketch of the actor — was actually a part of fan art he spotted online. Visualize the purple-colored original below:


"Kiss The Boy" sadly didn't make the Love, Simon soundtrack, although it will thankfully inspire several Simon/Bram fan videos, and I personally can't wait to watch them all.