LISTEN: How Gloria Gaynor gave us another gay anthem with this Broadway cover
Gloria Gaynor’s legacy was just “I Will Survive,” the definitive, 1978 disco chart-topper that became a gay anthem as the community went on to face the AIDS crisis in subsequent years.
But “enough” was not going to cut it for the mirrorball queen.In 1983, Gaynor blessed the gays once more with “I Am What I Am,” a shimmering spin on one of the most memorable tunes from Broadway’s La Cage aux Folles.
And make no mistake –– while the release didn’t match the commercial success of Gaynor’s biggest hit, it made an indelible mark on the LGBTQ+ community.
RuPaul even said it brought him to tears.It’s no coincidence that a club-kissed reimagining of “I Am What I Am” found an audience with the gays, considering it originated in Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking (and uber-queer) musical.
