Lady Gaga celebrated the 10th anniversary of her iconic album Born This Way in quite possibly the best way possible.

The 35-year-old megastar – real name Stefani Germanotta – was today awarded a key to the city of West Hollywood to honour the cultural impact of her second studio album.

To top it off, Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath also officially declared May 23 as ‘Born This Way Day’.

Horvath also unveiled a painting of the album’s title as a pride flag on Robertson Boulevard as a tribute to both the album and the LGBTQIA+ community.

He told Gaga during the celebration: “Thank you for encouraging us to love ourselves and be proud!”

Clearly touched by the homage, Gaga told the cheering crowd: “Thank you for this key. You’ve been – I’m sure this will sound cheesy to some people, not to me – you’ve been the motherfucking key to my heart for a long time.

“I’ll honour this and I’ll treasure this, and I promise I’ll always be here for this day.

Gaga added: “I will be here on this day to celebrate with you, to feel joy with you, to cry with you, to laugh with you, because you know what we are? We’re poets, and we’re just talking to each other. I love you, let’s have a good time!”

Sharing images of the momentous occasion in a Twitter post later on, Gaga explained that Born This Way had been inspired by black gay activist, Carl Bean.

“[He] preached, sung and wrote about being “Born This Way.” Notably his early work was in 1975, 11 years before I was born,” Gaga wrote.

“Thank you for decades of relentless love, bravery, and a reason to sing. So we can all feel joy, because we deserve joy. Because we deserve the right to inspire tolerance, acceptance, and freedom for all.”

You can read more about topic over at the Pop Observer. 

Check out ‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga:

YouTube VideoPlay

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine