While the song was intentionally written for her LGBTQ+ fan base, it held a different personal meaning for Ross at the time:
‘I’m Coming Out’: Diana Ross’ Eternal, Uplifting Anthem Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
Released on August 22, 1980, is the second single from Diana Ross's tenth studio album, diana . Produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the disco group Chic, the track has evolved from a dancefloor hit into a global anthem for liberation and LGBTQ+ pride. The Origin Story While the song was intentionally written for her
: Nile Rodgers observed six or seven Diana Ross impersonators in the bathroom. Realizing Ross's immense influence in the gay community, he called Bernard Edwards and proposed writing a "coming out" song that would have the same cultural power as James Brown's "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud". Realizing Ross's immense influence in the gay community,
: The iconic instrumental intro, featuring a trombone solo by Meco Monardo, was designed to sound like a royal fanfare, announcing Ross as the "queen" of her audience. Dual Meanings
The song was famously inspired by a night out at , a Manhattan transgender club.