Related: Beyond Madonna: 12 queer musicians who are about to blow up ani difranco bikini kill bronski beat carl bean Cher Christina Aguilera Cyndi Lauper Diana Ross George Michael Gloria Gaynor Grace Jones Jake Shears Judy Garland k.d. While Ellie Goulding and Moulin Rouge may have brought it back for modern-day performers, it’s easy to see why people love to sing this one. And like her smash record, Bean’s 1977 track (which was previously recorded by fellow Motown recording artist Valentino) was forthright in its gay lyricism: “I’m happy / I’m careful / I’m gay,” the cheery-voiced singer proclaims over a disco beat. Nearly a decade before Lady Gaga was born, Carl Bean released a song with a similar title to Mother Mother’s signature hit. Debuting at the top of charts across the world, the song is straightforward in its intention to empower the LGBTQ community: “No matter gay, straight, or bi / Lesbian, transgendered life / I’m on the right track, baby / I was born to survive,” the superstar commands. This track may be less than ten years old, but it became a gay classic upon arrival. While “I Will Survive” seems like the obvious choice for a Gaynor classic, “I Am What I Am” has gayer origins: the song, penned by out composer Jerry Herman, was written as the finale performance to close out the uber-gay Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles. The punk rockers were pioneers of the early ’90s feminist riot grrrl movement.Īs if this song wasn’t gay enough, the Glee rendition was a duet between the show’s resident lesbian, Santana (Naya Rivera), and guest star Idina Menzel. “When she walks, the revolution’s coming / In her kiss, I taste the revolution,” snarls Kathleen Hanna. In years since, she channeled her energy into co-founding True Colors United, an organization that focuses on the unique experiences of LGBTQ youth. Though the song wasn’t originally written for her, Cyndi resonated with the lyrics because of the recent death of a close friend due to AIDS. Not only was its music video praised for its raw portrayal of queer people, but the empowering ballad was penned by out-and-proud singer-songwriter Linda Perry. Close to two decades before queens sashayed onto audiences’ television screens in the form of Drag Race, Mama Ru commanded attention with her first major label single in 1992, hitting number 45 on the Billboard chart.