Carl Bean was a minister, AIDS activist, and singer known for his 1977 dance club hit, “I Was Born This Way.”Bean, a gay man, was singing in gospel groups and appearing in Broadway shows when Motown Records asked him to record a cover of “I Was Born This Way,” first recorded in 1975 by Valentino.
Bean’s version became a hit on the dance music charts and was a groundbreaking early LGBTQ anthem, notable for its bold chorus: “I’m happy, carefree, and I’m gay – yes, I’m gay.” Lady Gaga has said that her 2011 hit song and album, “Born This Way,” were inspired by Bean’s song.“I Was Born This Way” was Bean’s only hit song; not long after its success, he was ordained as a minister and founded the Unity Fellowship of Christ Church in South Los.
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