Wonder if Barbara Walters wants to take credit — again — for this public revelation.
Either way, whatevs … Ricky Martin (even though he did take part in Menudo) is fabulous and amazing and deserves to be happy one way or another. He didn’t owe the public an explanation or any retorts to the decade of gay-taunts and speculation regarding his sexuality, but he’s obviously comfortable enough in his own skin to address what so many people have questioned him about in the past.
On his blog, Martin states:
A few months ago I decided to write my memoirs, a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life. From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside. Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating.
Many people told me: “Ricky it’s not important”, “it’s not worth it”, “all the years you’ve worked and everything you’ve built will collapse”, “many people in the world are not ready to accept your truth, your reality, your nature”. 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.
If someone asked me today, “Ricky, what are you afraid of?” I would answer “the blood that runs through the streets of countries at war…child slavery, terrorism…the cynicism of some people in positions of power, the misinterpretation of faith.” But fear of my truth? Not at all! On the contrary, It fills me with strength and courage. This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment.
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.
What will happen from now on? It doesn’t matter. I can only focus on what’s happening to me in this moment. The word “happiness” takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution.
I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.
RM
Martin is clearly the well-adjusted, super-dad to twin boys, and above all is accepting of himself in a capacity where others’ opinions just don’t matter. Congratulations to Ricky for rising above and not giving a fuck about what people have to say. Haters in this kind of situation often have it all wrong anyway.
WoW
That was brave!
What a great guy. I hope he’s really happy
Good for you, Mr. Martin!
Now get out those sequin rainbow pants and get your Liberace on. :)
At last! Good for u!
Why is it that the pretty guys who wear beautiful scarves incredibly well always have to be gay?
Straight guys need to step up their grooming and love of fine fabrics.
I’m very happy for him, and yet a small part of me is sad. He is such a beautiful man. *sigh*. I still have a crush on him, darn it.
NAAASTY!!!!!!
now, thats…
*wait for it*
livin’ la vida loca!!!
:-)
Wow… That letter made me cry… I’m very happy for him though, and i have more respect for him after reading his letter… Nicely done Ricky!
I always suspected he might be gay – there are no straight men that handsome
I knew he is gay. He’s cool regardless. Even cooler now that he looks to be a great father. It’s unfortunate he spent so many years conflicted.
I am so happy for him. No one deserves to live their life afraid of what people will think of them if they are true to who they are. I’m glad he finally stood up for who he really is.
RICKY MARTIN IS GAAAAAAY?! O_o
…not surprised.
Good for him for getting it out there — he put it so well and I love him even more now.
though somewhere deep inside, my nine-year-old self is crying because she now realizes she will never be able to shake her bon-bon with him.