Carl Bean, I Was Born This Way | Beaming with Pride

In the 30th edition of Beaming with Pride (2025), we highlight the song, “I Was Born This Way” performed by Carl Bean. 

Prepare to beam with P-R-I-D-E ️‍! Beaming with Pride celebrates, embraces, and spotlights songs by LGBTQ musicians or allies.  Here, we provide background and insight into musician(s) and analyze + go gaga over the decadent bops served up.  When the music dictates deeper, more transcendent discussion, we ensure the point is fully articulated.  All styles of music are welcome while the songs can be classics or brand-spanking new. So, without further ado, in the 30^th edition of Beaming with Pride (2025), we highlight “I Was Born This Way” performed by Carl Bean.

“I’m walking through life / In nature’s disguise, yeah / You laugh at me / And you criticize me, yeah.” Sad , but damn true, unfortunately. Why the bullying? “‘Cause I’m happy / Carefree and gay / Yes, I’m gay / It ain’t a fault it’s a fact.” Almost a decade before Lady Gaga was born, Carl Bean (1944 – 2021) recorded a gay, disco anthem for the ages: “I Was Born This Way”.  “I Was Born This Way” ‘turned the gay clubs up’ with its liberated lyrics, infectious groove, and those marvelous 1970s symphonic cues (horns and strings ). “I was born this way,” Bean sings proudly in the first verse, adding, “We’re all the way / Nature meant us to be.” The LGBTQ+ classic would inspire Gaga to record her beloved, powerful anthem, “Born This Way”.  “I Was Born This Way” was written by Chris Spierer and Bunny Jones.  It was first recorded by Valentino in 1975. Bean famously covered it in 1977.

A black musician recording a gay song in the 1970s was a big deal. Black gay musicians existed – they have always existed – but their sexuality was, more often than not, hidden.  In this case, Bean sang his truth, reemphasizing his identity in the chorus: happy, carefree, gay, and born this way.  In the second verse, he brings in a ‘higher power,’ God: “You’re calling me strange / ‘Cause you don’t understand / God’s role for me / In life’s overall plan.” What is interesting about this is how Bean would evolve.  He eventually became an archbishop.  Although openly gay, he founded a church for his community – the LGBTQ community. Sadly, it is not something associated with many churches, even well into the 2020s.  Despite the adversity, as “I Was Born This Way” continues, Bean touts the fact, “I really can be me,” “I want the world to know / I’m just ordinary folk,” and asserts, “I’m gonna carry on / One more time / I was born this way.” For Carl Bean, it took tremendous courage to ‘come out’ with “I Was Born This Way”.  This talented LGBTQ activist, singer, and pastor ‘paved the way’ for many to live their truth, particularly those who are brown and identify as LGBTQ.

Carl Bean // “I Was Born This Way” // BMG Rights Management (US) LLC // 1977

Carl Bean, I Was Born This Way: Beaming with Pride No. 30 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; BMG Rights Management (US) LLC; Elias Souza, Mario Spencer, Mizuno K from Pexels;  All_CC0_Public_domain, CatsWithGlasses, David, ernestflowerss, Kelly, M. Harris, Marek Studzinski, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]