Lady Gaga — The Queer Icon of Our Generation
By Christine Kinori
Lady Gaga is one of the most iconic superstars in the world. She is fearless, strong, talented, and bold. She does not shy away from being herself amid controversies and has traversed personal and professional struggles to be the person she is today. Since her debut in 2008 with the single Just Dance, Gaga grabbed the world’s attention, and ever since, she has always marched on with confidence, constantly reminding fans to be themselves. Gaga is not just a pop icon, but the queer icon of our generation.
Being a queer icon is not just about having catchy music that we can rock to. It is about giving an inevitable euphoric experience that relates to the community. It is about creating a sense of belonging, acceptance, understanding, and community. It is about understanding the fans and fighting for them, and not just being an ally to increase the fan base. It is about being empathetic, having the guts not to compromise, defying the norms of success in the pop industry, and of course all the glamour, all of which Lady Gaga embodies.
Since her early days, Gaga never tried to be someone else while chasing success. Her identity as a bisexual woman and the unwavering love, advocacy, and support for the queer community are a cornerstone in her journey to success. Gaga’s songs showcase her dedication to speaking for the misunderstood people regarded as outcasts. For instance, “Poker Face” is not just an amazing song but alludes to her experiences with bisexuality.
The song, Americano delves into the complications of a woman falling in love with another woman and the hindrances to such a love story imposed by institutions. Gaga pushes relentlessly push for love, equality, and revolution. In Hair, Gaga talks about the importance of accepting oneself and embracing authenticity as the path to true vulnerability and freedom. Everyone in the LGBTQ+ community can relate to this song as they have at some point had to fight for their rights to personal expression even with the closest people to them like parents.
Another iconic song which instantly became an LGBTQ+ anthem is Born This Way. The song is a classic, and instant landmark in the queer community’s pop culture. It is timeless as it was released in a time when no one was ready to accept LGBTQ+ on mainstream platforms. Gaga boldly declared that “No matter gay, straight, bi, lesbian, transgender life, black, white, or beige, you are on the right track/born to be brave/born to survive/because God makes no mistakes.”
The message of Born This Way was personal and revolutionary. Gaga unapologetically celebrated queerness telling the LGBTQ+ community that they belong and they are perfect just the way they are. They may be just simple lyrics to some but for the millions of LGBTQ+ youths who were navigating the fear of being bullied, judgment from relatives and the society, choosing to stay closeted because of internalized shame of their feelings, Gaga’s lyrics were life-saving. The song became a space for acceptance, healing, and building confidence.
Lady Gaga refers to her fandom as her “Little Monsters.” This term is endearing for the LGBTQ+ community as it shows that Gaga chose to build a family that celebrated differences, vulnerability, and what the society might find weird. Many queer people often find themselves alienated from the traditional structures of family. Thus. Gaga’s chosen fandom became their home and a chosen family, teaching them to be feral, love themselves, and relish their uniqueness. With every bizarre or flamboyant outfit worn to the award shows, in music videos, or on music tours, she was telling her little monsters to embrace the weird side and be exactly who they are.
Gaga not only talks the talk but walks the walk in her LGBTQ+ advocacy. She is Bisexual, therefore part of the family. Gaga is open about her orientation, and she refuses to water down her identity to fit the set standards of neat in the entertainment industry. She refuses to let the people invalidate her queerness as most treat bisexuality as a phase. She shows up for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month, speaking up for the victims of hate. Gaga’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights transcend the local political levels to the global community. She created the Born This Way foundation to support mental health and anti-bullying initiatives and dedication to protecting the queer community.
Lady Gaga sees the LGBTQ+ community and speaks directly to the dreamers, the outcasts, the closeted, the freaks, the drag queens and all those still figuring it out. She stands tall, shows up, and screams her truth in all the platforms. She is a queer star that sparkles so bright illuminating the path for all the LGBTQ+ people in a world that constantly seeks to dim their identity, hopes and dreams.
Even now, as she continues to grow in her career, she remains true to her artistry and continues to inspire the young generation. The impact of her music career and LGBTQ advocacy will last for generations to come. This is why she will always be iconic.
About the Author
Christine claims to have somewhat unhealthy addiction to TV and reading, as it is a fun way to keep herself occupied during the long journeys for her travel writing. She is also a believer of letting people be their beautiful selves. To her, love is love and it is the greatest gift we have as humans.