Born Gay – No way unless you’re Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga ( Stefani Germanotta ) speaks for millions in her song “ Born This Way ,” when she declares, I’m beautiful in my way, ‘Cause God makes no mistakes I’m on the right track, baby I was born this way (Streamline/Interscope/KonLive, 2011) The song is a hodgepodge of pluralistic affirmations, but its dominant message is unmistakably sexual, which Gaga’s music video makes explicitly clear (viewer discretion strongly advised): No matter gay, straight, or bi Lesbian, transgendered life I’m on the right track, baby I was born to survive “Born This Way” is a pop anthem of Western culture , a musical declaration of sexual independence. But it is not revolutionary, like Queen ’s “We Will Rock You” or “We Are the Champions” from a generation ago. Gaga (a name inspired by Queen’s “Radio Gaga”) is singing a mainstream manifesto, a dominant cultural belief about self-identity: I am my sexuality (my sexual desires and self-determined gender identity), I am beautiful, and I was bor