Ricky Martin wishes he could come out again
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Latin superstar Ricky Martin is telling a U.N. conference on homophobia that he wishes he could come out again so he could tell people struggling with their identities that "it's just beautiful - you find love."
Martin said Tuesday that "for many years, I loved on fear ... because I was hating myself because I grew up listening to a very crooked concept: 'You're gay. You belong in hell.'"
Martin, who is currently starring on Broadway in "Evita," said it was amazing to be at the United Nations surrounded by people "fighting for one cause - equality and love and social justice."
He praised U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who got a standing ovation after telling the conference that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people - the LGBTs - "are entitled to the same rights as everyone else."
"They, too, are born free and equal," Ban said. "I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in their struggle for human rights."
The secretary-general said he is "pained" that more than 76 countries still criminalize homosexuality.
"I am here to again denounce violence and demand action for true equality," he said.
While the past decade has seen far-reaching reforms in Europe, the Americas and a number of African and Asian countries, Ban said, in a number of countries - including Ukraine - draft laws have been proposed that would criminalize public discussion of homosexuality.
South African singing star Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a human rights activist and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. children's fund who is married and has four children, said "I think straight people should respect other people because, for me, I don't think there's anything crooked about LGBT."
Their only "crime," she said, "is because they love the same gender."
Chaka said her husband is a prince who is allowed to have three or four wives "but I would not let him."
I will never allow him to have a second wife, and he knows that. That is why he chose me," she said. "If he wants to, goodbye."
Martin said Tuesday that "for many years, I loved on fear ... because I was hating myself because I grew up listening to a very crooked concept: 'You're gay. You belong in hell.'"
Martin, who is currently starring on Broadway in "Evita," said it was amazing to be at the United Nations surrounded by people "fighting for one cause - equality and love and social justice."
He praised U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who got a standing ovation after telling the conference that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people - the LGBTs - "are entitled to the same rights as everyone else."
"They, too, are born free and equal," Ban said. "I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in their struggle for human rights."
The secretary-general said he is "pained" that more than 76 countries still criminalize homosexuality.
"I am here to again denounce violence and demand action for true equality," he said.
While the past decade has seen far-reaching reforms in Europe, the Americas and a number of African and Asian countries, Ban said, in a number of countries - including Ukraine - draft laws have been proposed that would criminalize public discussion of homosexuality.
South African singing star Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a human rights activist and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. children's fund who is married and has four children, said "I think straight people should respect other people because, for me, I don't think there's anything crooked about LGBT."
Their only "crime," she said, "is because they love the same gender."
Chaka said her husband is a prince who is allowed to have three or four wives "but I would not let him."
I will never allow him to have a second wife, and he knows that. That is why he chose me," she said. "If he wants to, goodbye."
I would love to see him on Broadway in Evita.
This would be more heart warming if the U.N. actually had influence for good in the world. Tolerance and equal rights should be the goal of all to the point that we no longer discuss a person's sexuality, however, we still see that fear, ignorance and hate is rampant around the world, this includes sexual orientation, race, nationality, religion, etc.Â
"""""Ricky Martin wishes he could come out again""""""
Not surprising since its the most attention he's gotten in the last decade.
He is a problem child.
I thought freddy murphy was already dead
I am heartened to hear that this man is finally comfortable and open with who he is. Time is past for living in the moment of one's outting only however. Mr. Martin.
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Get on with living. And feel blessed to be who you are. Just "be" and let's all be happy for one another. And get on with LIFE.Â
If muslims take over my guess is that Ricky Martin will be one of the first to get stoned to death. muslims hate gays and just kill them. Considering that 23% of the world is muslim that is a lot of anti gays. The so called palestinians that liberals love and support would love to kill Ricky Martin in a heartbeat. With them it would he a bonus if he was a Jew but either way killing Ricky Martin would be a cause to rejoice for muslims.
 @RalphCramden Your 'fears' are very telling of your 'character'.
 @browntownÂ
I am looking at the big picture. You have no idea what affect Iran can have on your life. They could be responsible for the financial collapse of the entire planet and put you out of work and on the streets.
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If you looked at the big picture they you would understand.
 @pdxdÂ
I posted the right answer to the wrong article.
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I guess you would have be put to death for that. I apologize for making a mistake and beg your forgiveness.
 @RalphCramden Iran had NOTHING to do with the news story!!!! I think you've gone off your rocker again. Or were you unable to get your meds because your off-shore accounts got shut off again?
 @RalphCramden Looks like we get to disagree again.....I highly doubt that 100% of all Muslims would kill gays/liberals/Jews. And for the record, where in the F-U-D-G-E did Muslims come into the article anyway?
 @pdxdÂ
I just like to inject the reality into their goal of making gays mainstream.
 @pdxdÂ
Except in muslim countries were they just kill them.
 @RalphCramden I've known people from all walks of life, faith, religion, including Muslim....the only religious people that have ever caused me fear regarding my being gay are extreme-Christians.Â
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And Gays are just as mainstream, as left-handed people.