I Was Born This Way
“Love is for everyone!”
Synopsis
Surviving childhood abuse during his upbringing in Baltimore, Archbishop Carl Bean forged a path to New York and Hollywood to do the one thing he knew he was put on earth to do: sing. Making his mark first as a gospel singer, Bean got the break of his life when Motown tapped him in 1977 to record the disco song “I Was Born This Way,” which quickly became the first gay anthem at a time when it was uncommon to be out and proud. When the AIDS crisis hit, however, Bean soon found himself drawn to a different calling: compassionate activism. Instead of pursuing the momentum of his promising music career, he founded the Minority AIDS Project and the Unity Fellowship Church — the first LGBTQ+ church for people of color.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
I WAS BORN THIS WAY: A Conversation at AFI FEST presented by CanvaOfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-11-12
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
Mardi Gras Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard
- Original Score
- John Jennings Boyd, DeAndre James Allen-Toole
- Original Title
- I Was Born This Way
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Studios
- JungeFilm, w/Love Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard
John Jennings Boyd, DeAndre James Allen-Toole
Jerry Henry, Jed Alan
Tessa Malsam, Davis Coombe
Wellington Love, Jed Alan, Daniel Junge, Questlove, Billy Porter
Department Leadership Roster
Daniel Junge
Director
Sam Pollard
Director
Jerry Henry
Director of Photography
Jed Alan
Director of Photography
Wellington Love
Producer
Jed Alan
Producer
Daniel Junge
Producer
Tessa Malsam
Editor
Davis Coombe
Editor
John Jennings Boyd
Original Music Composer
DeAndre James Allen-Toole
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for I Was Born This Way.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring I Was Born This Way.
Grandma
Documentary Movies (Top Rated From 1980 to Today)
More Like I Was Born This Way
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About I Was Born This Way
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is I Was Born This Way about?
Surviving childhood abuse during his upbringing in Baltimore, Archbishop Carl Bean forged a path to New York and Hollywood to do the one thing he knew he was put on earth to do: sing. Making his mark first as a gospel singer, Bean got the break of his life when Motown tapped him in 1977 to record the disco song “I Was Born This Way,” which quickly became the first gay anthem at a time when it was uncommon to be out and proud. When the AIDS crisis hit, however, Bean soon found himself drawn to a different calling: compassionate activism. Instead of pursuing the momentum of his promising music career, he founded the Minority AIDS Project and the Unity Fellowship Church — the first LGBTQ+ church for people of color.
Who directed I Was Born This Way?
I Was Born This Way was directed by Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard.
Who stars in I Was Born This Way?
The principal cast of I Was Born This Way includes Carl Bean, Billy Porter, Questlove, Lady Gaga, Dionne Warwick.
When was I Was Born This Way released and how long is it?
I Was Born This Way was released in 2025 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for I Was Born This Way?
The original motion picture soundtrack for I Was Born This Way was composed by John Jennings Boyd, DeAndre James Allen-Toole.