2011: 'Born This Way' & 24 Other Essential Queer Anthems

By Out.com Editors
25 Essential Queer Anthems
25 Essential Queer Anthems

For 25 years, OUT has celebrated queer culture. To mark our silver jubilee, we look back at some of the biggest, brightest moments of the past 9,131 days.

In 2011, Lady Gaga released the most explicit, unabashed musical ode to the LGBTQ community we’d ever heard. But she wasn’t the first artist to write a song that spoke to—and for—us. Here, we pay homage to the 25 most influential queer anthems of the past 25 years. They inspired us. They empowered us. They kept us at the club way later than we should have been.

k.d. lang, “Constant Craving” (1992)
k.d. lang, “Constant Craving” (1992)
RuPaul, “Supermodel (You Better Work)” (1992)
RuPaul, “Supermodel (You Better Work)” (1992)
Bikini Kill, “Rebel Girl” (1993)
Bikini Kill, “Rebel Girl” (1993)
Robin S., “Show Me Love” (1993)
Robin S., “Show Me Love” (1993)
Blur, “Girls & Boys” (1994)
Blur, “Girls & Boys” (1994)
Garbage, “Queer” (1995)
Garbage, “Queer” (1995)
Janet Jackson, “Together Again” (1997)
Janet Jackson, “Together Again” (1997)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch cast, “Wig in a Box” (1998)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch cast, “Wig in a Box” (1998)
Cher, “Believe” (1998)
Cher, “Believe” (1998)
Whitney Houston, “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” (Thunderpuss Mix) (1999)
Whitney Houston, “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” (Thunderpuss Mix) (1999)
Pet Shop Boys, “New York City Boy” (1999)
Pet Shop Boys, “New York City Boy” (1999)
Christina Aguilera, “Beautiful” (2002)
Christina Aguilera, “Beautiful” (2002)
Britney Spears, “Toxic” (2003)
Britney Spears, “Toxic” (2003)
Scissor Sisters, “Take Your Mama” (2004)
Scissor Sisters, “Take Your Mama” (2004)
Franz Ferdinand, “Michael” (2004)
Franz Ferdinand, “Michael” (2004)
Madonna, “Hung Up” (2005)
Madonna, “Hung Up” (2005)
Gossip, “Standing in the Way of Control” (2006)
Gossip, “Standing in the Way of Control” (2006)
Hercules and Love Affair, “Blind” (2008)
Hercules and Love Affair, “Blind” (2008)
Robyn, “Dancing on My Own” (2010)
Robyn, “Dancing on My Own” (2010)
Lady Gaga, “Born This Way” (2011)
Lady Gaga, “Born This Way” (2011)
Le1f, “Wut” (2012)
Le1f, “Wut” (2012)
Frank Ocean, “Forrest Gump” (2012)
Frank Ocean, “Forrest Gump” (2012)
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert, “Same Love” (2013)
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert, “Same Love” (2013)
Against Me!, “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” (2014)
Against Me!, “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” (2014)
Perfume Genius, “Queen” (2014)
Perfume Genius, “Queen” (2014)
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Tags: Music, 25 Years
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