The Evolution of Identity: A Critical Look at "Born This Way"
A Rhetorical Workhorse
In 2011, Lady Gaga released "Born This Way," a song that would go on to become an instant hit and an instant L.G.B.T.Q. anthem. The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100, and Elton John called it "the new gay anthem." The phrase "Born This Way" captured the zeitgeist, conveying that queerness was natural and immutable, and that it was not a result of abuse, grooming, or impairment.
The Power of Timing
The idea that sexuality was innate, captured in the phrase "Born This Way," was a rhetorical workhorse that began to lead the conversation around L.G.B.T.Q. issues. Although the idea of homosexual bio-essentialism has a history that long predates this modern iteration, "Born This Way" this time was a phrase that matched the moment and captured the zeitgeist. As with most things in politics, it was about timing.
A Scientific Imperative
Later that year, President Barack Obama joked at the Human Rights Campaign annual dinner that he had taken a trip to California, where he held productive talks with Lady Gaga. The conversation around L.G.B.T.Q. issues was gaining momentum, and Obama’s support for same-sex marriage soon followed.
The Evolution of Science
In the years after the song was released, the percentage of Americans saying that being gay or lesbian was something a person was born with began to consistently outweigh those who responded that being queer was due to factors such as upbringing and environment. However, the emerging scientific consensus is that sexual orientation isn’t purely genetic. A person’s genetic makeup and exposure to prenatal hormones may provide a propensity to queerness, but they aren’t determinative. Other factors most likely also play a role.
The Complexity of Human Sexuality
"Born This Way" may have been an oversimplification. It’s probably closer to the truth to say that people are "formed this way." As the complexity of human sexuality has become clearer, scientists and writers have attempted to add necessary nuance to the subject. But the slogan remains entrenched in the culture.
A New Era of Acceptance
Just last year, Rolling Stone crowned "Born This Way" the most inspirational L.G.B.T.Q. song of all time, calling it a "battle cry" that "is as relevant as ever." However, the time may have come to retire the phrase. It is not only unsupportable by science but also does not capture the full reality of queer experience and is unjust to some members of the queer community itself.
The Complexity of Identity
As Lisa Diamond, a professor of developmental psychology, health psychology, and gender studies at the University of Utah, explained in her 2018 TED talk, the argument is "unjust because it implies that L.G.B.T. individuals who fit a certain cultural stereotype, the ones who have been exclusively gay for as long as they can possibly remember, are somehow more deserving of acceptance and equality than someone who came out at age 60 or whose attractions have been more fluid or who is bisexual rather than exclusively gay."
Conclusion
The phrase "Born This Way" has been a powerful tool in the L.G.B.T.Q. movement, but it is time to move beyond its limitations. The science is clear: sexual orientation is complex and multifaceted, and it is not solely determined by biology. It is time to recognize that people’s right to exist and our responsibility to affirm and protect them do not hinge on the mechanisms by which they came to exist. The "end" exists, regardless of the "means."
FAQs
Q: Why is it necessary to retire the phrase "Born This Way"?
A: The phrase is not supported by science and does not capture the full reality of queer experience. It is also unjust to some members of the queer community.
Q: What is the alternative to "Born This Way"?
A: A more nuanced explanation of attraction, one with a bit of mystery, opens the door to ambiguity and uncertainty. We may choose how we identify and how we express or suppress our attractions, but our attractions themselves are not a choice.
Q: What is the impact of retiring the phrase "Born This Way"?
A: Retiring the phrase may potentially not be much of a loss, as the science is so strong that things like conversion therapy are extremely detrimental to mental health and even the lives of queer people.
Q: How can we move forward without the phrase "Born This Way"?
A: We must insist that people’s right to exist and our responsibility to affirm and protect them do not hinge on the mechanisms by which they came to exist. The "end" exists, regardless of the "means."
