LGBT Issues In Lady Gaga's Born This Way

For years, LGBT issues weren’t as accepted as it is now. Many things in the media, books, and music excluded Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people, and the few that did, didn’t help the movement as much. You have books that kill off lesbian characters, gay men were stereotypicality feminine, nobody believed in bisexuality, and transgendered people lived their lives as drag queens. The lives of LGBT were kept a secret, nobody knew what would happen if this secret was revealed. Now, we have gained knowledge and started treating LGBT in the media better, not as great as it should. The song, “Born This Way”, by Lady Gaga brings the issue of pro-LGBT and self-love front and center for the world to listen when analyzed using a cultural lens.

The primary issue is that throughout the years, LGBT people were looked down upon and not accepted for who they are. Religion was one of the primary sources for the anti-gay movement. Media wouldn’t show gays on television, books that feature LGBT characters would always be killed off for no reason except because of who they were. Marriage was seen as a bond between man and women and that boy must like girls or they’ll “burn in hell.” Now, LGBT characters are on most television shows, along with books. Gay marriage was finally legalized in 2015. The fight for LGBT is far from over. As many believe that once

marriage was legalized that it was over, but it isn’t over.

The media are an important part of representation for all kinds of people.

Getting LGBT representation on television was an important part of the LGBT movement. With shows like Queer As Folk, Modern Family, How to Get Away with Murder, etc. representation has opened up for LGBT people. One major problem involving media and LGBT representation is the “Bury Your Gays” trope in which a LGBT (mostly a lesbian character) is killed off for no reason other than being a lesbian. We’ve seen this with shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Orphan Black, and The 100. The media’s view of LGBT people are both positive and

negative.

Stefani Germanotta left home at the age of seventeen to start a music career. She is better known under her stage name, Lady Gaga. She has had a successful career, writing hit songs, and being a powerful voice to LGBT people. Gaga herself identifies as a bisexual woman. She is also a strong supporter of LGBT people, gaining the title as a “Gay Icon” for all she has done for and with, the LGBT community.

The song, “Born This Way” is a part of the list of songs labeled as a “gay anthem”. The song itself has pro-LGBT lyrics, but the music video has imagery that relates to the theme of the song. The lyrics, “No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive” go with the theme of loving yourself for who you love. This lyric points out that no matter who you love, you were born to live and enjoy life. The media gave the song mostly positive reviews, as well as the music video.

What makes the song and issue relevant? The song goes to the LGBT community and the reason the issue of gay rights and LGBT people are important because they’ve been shut out. Gay men have been murdered. In November of 2015, more than twenty-one transgendered women were killed. Lesbian’s representation in the media is bad. In 2016, North Carolina passed a law that stated transgender people could only use the bathroom of who they were before transitioning. LGBT people are still treated horribly and that is only in the United States. LGBT is murdered in other countries for no reason, while murderers and rapists run free.

According to religions like Christianity, being LGBT is a sin. They believe that marriage should only be between man and woman, they believe that being LGBT is a choice. They also speak that if someone chooses this “lifestyle choice” then they will burn for their sins. Well, scientist believe that being gay has something to do with genetics. Many LGBT people will kindly point out to hate groups, such as the Westboro Baptist Church, that they are not “disgusting” or “unnatural”.

Cultural criticism best describes the theme and issue of the song. Not only is the song a cultural hit, but the issue is also important in our modern culture.

Why is this song important for this issue? Well, the song shines light on it, and it opens listeners to understand. Hate cannot overcome love. More people should attend gay pride parades, be careful with the words you speak, sign up to help out with LGBT projects, even do research on the subject with an open mind, because you probably aren’t the same but everyone is human.