News

Ricky Martin Comes Out

• 30th Mar 2010

RICKY MARTIN has finally laid the speculation about his sexuality to rest after he announced to the world that he is gay.

The Livin' La Vida Loca star last night confirmed what has been rumoured for years as he admitted that he was “proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man”.

Writing on his website blog in Spanish and English, he said: 'I am very blessed to be who I am.'

Martin, 38, said he decided to reveal the truth after working on his memoirs which helped him realise that he had to be true to himself and not keep any more secrets.

He said: “Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating.

'Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth.

“Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions.'

The singer said his sons, twins Matteo and Valentino, who were born via surrogacy in 2008, had also inspired him to come out.

He said: 'To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids were born with. These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed.”

Before yesterday, Martin has never directly addressed his sexuality, and was always photographed at events and seen in his videos with gorgeous women on his arm.

n 2000, US television journalist Barbara Walters grilled him about whether he was gay, but he refused to disclose it.

The singer said another reason why he kept his homosexuality hidden was because he was told by some in his entourage that it would hurt his career.

While his US career peaked after the release of his 1999 self-titled English album, a multi-platinum success that sold over 15 million copies, he is still a hugely successful Latin artist.

As news spread of Martin’s announcement, his website crashed after hundreds of people logged on to write comments of support.

Jarrett Barrios, the president of the Gay, Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation organisation said: “When someone like Ricky Martin comes out, hundreds of millions of people now have a cultural connection with an artist, a celebrity and, perhaps most importantly, a father who happens to be gay.

“His decision to model this kind of openness and honesty can lead to greater acceptance for countless gay people in US, in Latin America and worldwide.”