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I Was Born This Way

Play trailer Poster for I Was Born This Way Oct 2025 1h 40m Documentary History LGBTQ+ Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When Archbishop Carl Bean sang the 1977 disco hit and gay anthem "I Was Born This Way," it was just the start of his mission to create positive change in the world. He went on to found the Minority AIDS Project and the world's first LGBTQ+ church for people of color. Using innovative rotoscope animation and featuring appearances by Lady Gaga, Questlove, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick, I WAS BORN THIS WAY is a feature-length documentary exploring the life and legacy of Bean and his resounding message "love is for everyone."

Critics Reviews

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Gregg Shapiro Bay Area Reporter Nov 14
A-
It's impossible to overstate the significant contributions that Carl Bean made to multiple communities, including LGBTQ, Black, HIV/AIDS, activist, and faith. Go to Full Review Carla Hay Culture Mix Oct 31
I Was Born This Way is a worthy tribute to Carl Bean, who was an archbishop, former disco singer, and overlooked pioneer in LGBTQ civil rights activism. The documentary's old interviews with Bean (who died in 2021) and others make it look a bit outdated. Go to Full Review Christopher Campbell Nonfics (Substack) Oct 31
[Carl Bean] is a good storyteller, and I enjoyed listening to, more than viewing, the film, which doesn’t have a lot of necessary or interesting visual elements. Go to Full Review Lapacazo Magrira Sandoval Los Angeles Sentinel Oct 28
If the film sometimes swells with abundance, it does so in the spirit of its subject, a man for whom enough was never enough when it came to justice or joy. Go to Full Review John Stark Mac the Movie Guy Sep 6
84/100
I’m not convinced of the need for reenactments. i pretty much love this unconditionally, even though it doesn’t have audio description. Go to Full Review Alise Chaffins MacGuffin or Meaning (Substack) Jul 15
4.5/5
I Was Born This Way shows that these weren’t simply lyrics that Archbishop Carl Bean sang, but the way that he lived his life. Now it’s up to us to follow in his footsteps and do the same. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Oct 31 Success in 1 hour and 40 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in 2025 in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Celebrating 5 years on: October 31st, 2030!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
I Was Born This Way

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Cast & Crew

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Daniel Junge

Director

Sam Pollard

Director

Archbishop Carl Bean

Self

Billy Porter

Self

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Self

Lady Gaga

Self
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I Was Born This Way

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Archbishop Carl Bean sang the 1977 disco hit and gay anthem "I Was Born This Way," it was just the start of his mission to create positive change in the world. He went on to found the Minority AIDS Project and the world's first LGBTQ+ church for people of color. Using innovative rotoscope animation and featuring appearances by Lady Gaga, Questlove, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick, I WAS BORN THIS WAY is a feature-length documentary exploring the life and legacy of Bean and his resounding message "love is for everyone."
Director
Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard
Producer
Wellington Love, Jed Alan, Daniel Junge
Distributor
JungeFilms
Production Co
JungeFilms
Genre
Documentary, History, LGBTQ+, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 40m