“Baby I was born this way” – Lady Gaga
Gaga explained her inspiration behind these words when West Hollywood declared May 23 Born This Way Day and granted her a key to the city:
“Born This Way, my song and album, were inspired by Carl Bean, a gay black religious activist who preached, sung, and wrote about being ‘Born This Way.’ Notably, his early work was in 1975, 11 years before I was born,” Gaga explained. “Thank you for decades of relentless love, bravery, and a reason to sing. So we can all feel joy, because we deserve joy. Because we deserve the right to inspire tolerance, acceptance, and freedom for all.” (udiscovermusic)