I just noticed on Twitter that Perez Hilton tweeted that Ricky Martin has come out as a gay man. Good for him!
Here is Ricky Martin’s announcement that he is a gay man from his official Web site:
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 thisis something worth celebrating.
For many years, there has been only one place where I am in touch with my emotions fearlessly and that’s the stage. Being on stage fills my soul in many ways, almost completely. It’s my vice. The music, the lights and the roar of the audience are elements that make me feel capable of anything. This rush of adrenaline is incredibly addictive. I don’t ever want to stop feeling these emotions. But it is serenity that brings me to where I’m at right now. An amazing emotional place of comprehension, reflection and enlightenment. At this moment I’m feeling the same freedom I usually feel only on stage, without a doubt, I need to share.
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.
I looked at a few videos of Ricky Martin singing and chose the one above for the hotness of the opening sequence of the naked woman in the swimming pool, but also because he is alone in the crowd for most of the video. Yes, straight people, we feel like that a lot. What I would LOVE is if homosexuals not only had full equality as citizens but also full equality to tell our stories for general audiences. I think it would be INCREDIBLY HOT if Martin made his future music videos romancing a male partner because then you would see the chemistry between them that he would never have with a female partner. Seriously, gentle readers — it would be HOT! HOT! HOT!!!
I thought he came out years ago? Anyway, good for him.
Someone’s sexuality is irrelevant to me UNLESS they are a politician, in which case it can be used against them. Case in point: Eric Massa.
When someone is an entertainer, a big part of who they are is creating an image so that they get work. So, I can understand someone staying in the closet when they’re in show biz. Ann Heche was simply not believable as a male’s love interest when she was with Ellen deGeneres. That may, in part, be due to her acting skills. Because, compare and contrast Neil Patrick Harris, whom my husband and I absolutely love. We go see every crappy thing he’s in because he makes us laugh so hard.
Stinky,
I’m going to have to go with not being able to see Anne Heche as a love interest, period. I think gay and lesbian actors will be believable in straight love scenes based on their acting ability and with the passage of a bit of time so people learn to wrap their heads around the concept. However, it goes the other way, too: straight actors are not very believable in gay or lesbian love scenes. There are a few exceptions, like Laura Innes and Elizabeth Mitchell. Something in Elizabeth Mitchell’s heart totally opens up in love scenes with women and it’s like a brilliant light shines from her. She is much more guarded in straight love scenes.
I thought the straight actors in “Queer as Folk” were as believable in the love scenes as the gay actors, which was totally freakin’ believable. But I never took any pleasure in the love scenes in “The ‘L’ Word.” The series was almost over before the actresses started to be respectful and serious in the love scenes. It didn’t help that the writers were tin-eared about emotions. In addition, every single love scene had a thorn or poison pill or ridicule or interruption in it, so I knew never to relax and enjoy them — just to count down to the moment of betrayal when the lesbian audience gets screwed. I also thought the show bore the signs of its creators and writers being in a constant will battle with producers and interest groups who wanted to hijack it. They obviously didn’t win every battle and some battles they didn’t fight when they should have.
Cynthia
Okay, A) Good for you Ricky. Even though we all knew it, your statement was lovely (quite moving) and I’m glad you have come to a place in your life where you don’t have to hide a big part of who you are anymore. God bless you and your little ones…they should be proud to have you as a daddy, and you are doing them a huge service by taking this step.
And 2) Helllloooo….Brokeback Mountain anyone??? Last I knew neither Heath (may he rest in peace) nor Jake were gay, but, OMG, the love scenes between them??? I’ve always been a fan of boys kissing boys when the passion seemed genuine (TMI, I know) and IMHO those two nailed it (so to speak). Even my Sissy had to admit it was totally hot. Still can’t get DH to watch it, he can’t get past the “gay cowboy” thing, but I think it is one of the sweetest, saddest, sexiest movies ever.
And I’m still pissed it didn’t win Best Picture.