NEW ON MEDIUM: “Born This Way” and “Good Luck, Babe!” — A Compassionate Reflection on Two Queer Anthems

I published an essay on Medium comparing two songs that have become cultural touchpoints for queer identity—Lady Gaga’s "Born This Way" and Chappell Roan’s "Good Luck, Babe!"

The essay explores how both songs reflect and shape ideas about authenticity, identity, and emotional truth. While "Born This Way" was once seen as radically affirming, it’s now the subject of critical reappraisal. Meanwhile, "Good Luck, Babe!" has been widely praised—but is it also open to critique?

I approach both songs with curiosity and compassion, drawing on perspectives from psychology, Buddhism, and gender studies.

Here is an excerpt from the essay:

...All three frameworks suggest that identity is like a river: it is constantly flowing and changing; and it can be hard to fully grasp in a few simple words. Which is why I’ve come to see “Born This Way” not as wrong, but as partial. It’s not the end of the conversation; it’s one chapter in it.

The critique of “Born This Way” made me reflect on what it means to move from being born a certain way to becoming who you are. These two ideas don’t have to contradict each other. A person might indeed have deep, early-rooted feelings of identity — and still experience change, transformation, or expansion. Framing identity as becoming makes room for both stability and fluidity.

That thought became a transition point for me. It helped me better appreciate the emotional truth of “Born This Way” while also feeling ready to consider other songs that address identity and denial from a different angle. That’s when I turned to “Good Luck, Babe!”...

Keep reading here!