Ricky Martin

[MarxSchmarx]

Ricky Martin came out today formally. I wonder what took him so long. His coming out statement seems a little generic if somewhat different:

But I found these passages surprisingly sanguine, even for something that was probably written by some PR hack in NYC:



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.

http://rickymartinmusic.com/portal/news/news.asp?item=114532
All the more power to him. I hope it can inspire others to follow.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Good for him.

[Sasha]

like some one else said: "next up, water comes out as wet"

but indeed good for him and may the next celeberty take less time.

[Le Libérer]

Its a shame that after all this time, he had to wrestle with coming out to the public. I've heard so many say, "Well its about time!." or "Hell I knew it all the time!". Who are we to judge anyone in their growth of self acceptance.

Over the years, anytime the subject came up, you could always tell by the forced smile on his face and the carefully picked words, it was a struggle for him. My heart always went out for him during those times. And it always pissed me off the conditions of this world are so judgmental to those who are oppressed by homophobia.

[Dr Mindbender]

I wonder what took him so long. .

My guess is his PR people were afraid it would alienate his female fan base. The breakfast news today said his agent ''advised him not to do it''.

Guess he's going for the pink pound now.

[Morgenstern]

Fact: It takes courage to admit that you're homosexual. A friend of mine told a few people that he was bisexual and when a friend was talking to me about the guy I said, "My respect for him went up, it takes real balls to do that."

Ricky Martin is now a very courageous man. It takes courage to do things like be a firefighter but it takes even more courage to go against some of the ideas of society.

[Dr Mindbender]

Not to take anything away from Ricky Martin but i think coming out is a thousand times harder if you're working class.

Gay celebrities benefit from their woolly liberal shangri-la of fortune, bodyguards and walls of glamour magazine entourages that protect them from having to deal with the adversity that is part and parcel of being atomised, vulnerable, skint and a member of a victimised demographic.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Not to take anything away from Ricky Martin but i think coming out is a thousand times harder if you're working class.

Undeniable, but the more that being comfortable about one's sexuality is seen as a good thing, the better right? Like it or not, people take their cues from known personalities.

This is progress. Slow, painful and not without setbacks, but progress nonetheless.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

I thought the so-called "gaydar" was a myth. How is it that a person actively trying to hide their homosexuality is "known" to be gay before they even reveal it? Is it the blatant over-heretosexual facade that clued people in or am I missing something?

I just don't see why people were assuming anything about his sexuality aside from what he told them. I don't see how we have any business declaring the sexuality of other people as it's a personal thing. If I find out my friend is having homosexual relationships, do I have a right to classify him as gay if he identifies as straight - regardless of whether or not he is confused?

[Meridian]

Who cares?!

:blink:

[Jacobinist]

Who cares?!

:blink:


Thats where Im at. But If I have to comment, good for him.

(I was right all along, hehe) :thumbup:

[MarxSchmarx]

Who cares?!

:blink:

Actually it was his statement that I wanted to share. I found it somewhat more thoughtful than a lot of other celebrity coming out statements I've read.

[075]

But he's so good looking :(

[Le Libérer]

Undeniable, but the more that being comfortable about one's sexuality is seen as a good thing, the better right? Like it or not, people take their cues from known personalities.

This is progress. Slow, painful and not without setbacks, but progress nonetheless.
This is the most profound statement in this thread. Over the last 20 years I have worked as an HIV/AIDS activist, the stigma of living with HIV/AIDS before Magic Johnson came forward with his diagnosis, literally changed the face of AIDS. It was the defining moment where AIDS shifted from a Gay Mans disease to a disease that could happen to anyone, even a straight man. Media is the most powerful force when it comes to changing the status quo.

Whether we like it or not, we are slaves to what the media tells us we should trust, love, accept, or believe in.

[counterblast]

It was the defining moment where AIDS shifted from a Gay Mans disease to a disease that could happen to anyone, even a straight man.

This isn't progress.

Progress is changing heterosexist attitudes, not appealing to heterosexists.

Making society say, "Who care's if its a gay epidemic? Folks are dying, how can we spend another cent on _____?"

Otherwise you address one issue (AIDS) at the expense of allowing another (homophobia) to go unchecked.

Or in this case, homosexuality is being addressed without questioning the role class and power play in "coming out".

Why doesn't Jerome Johnson (name fictionalized) a 13-year old from Cleveland who just "came out" and was thrown out by his family get media publicity and public support?

Why while rich gays are profiting from coming out by receiving GLAAD awards and magazine exclusives, poor queer/trans people are unable to even find a homeless shelter that will let them stay overnight?

[Le Libérer]

This isn't progress.

Progress is changing heterosexist attitudes, not appealing to heterosexists. As much as I hate the power of media in the negative, Ryan White (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_White#Ryan_White_and_public_perception_of_AID S), a 12 year old boy changed the perception of AIDS as well as Magic Johnson, a straight man. It was the defining moment when attitudes about HIV/AIDS started to shift.

What tools do you have available that will change heterosexist attitudes? Because our funding for HIV prevention education is being cut by 50% across the board. If you think homophobia and AIDSphobia as well as misinformation on modes of tranmission are bad just you wait 5 years from now when HIV infection will soar again because of misinformation.


Making society say, "Who care's if its a gay epidemic? Folks are dying, how can we spend another cent on _____?" Well seeing I have spent the last 20 years of my life dealing with this issue, have watch our labor of direct actions, lobbying, and policy changes on the federal level force state changes in policy, the use of ADAP an AIDS Drug Assistance Program be funded and get life sustaining meds to those who would be dead by now, because of people of celebrity lobbying at the national level, I have a real hard time NOT seeing the positive effects opening dialog and bringing out into the open; that AIDS effects the poor, people of color, women of child bearing age much more than it does the LGBT community at this point. ANd thats because we have educated ourselves.


Otherwise you address one issue (AIDS) at the expense of allowing another (homophobia) to go unchecked. Strawman, that is not what I did. Historically the two have gone hand in hand. And we are just now starting to see that change slightly. Once again, we have our media to thank for making AIDS a gay disease, that and Reagans refusal to address the issue early on.


Or in this case, homosexuality is being addressed without questioning the role class and power play in "coming out". This is apple and oranges to my comment, two very different subjects, and one I will gladly debate, but will not throw AIDS and coming out into the same pot, especially when the face of AIDS here and now are Women of Child bearing years. 30 % of my case load is made of of women.


Why doesn't Jerome Johnson (name fictionalized) a 13-year old from Cleveland who just "came out" and was thrown out by his family get media publicity and public support? Because homophobia is still a huge issue with so many facets of "Why" it would take a book to write.


Why while rich gays are profiting from coming out by receiving GLAAD awards and magazine exclusives, poor queer/trans people are unable to even find a homeless shelter that will let them stay overnight?Yes well that is a class issue isnt? The issue of the poor in a Capitalistic society ranges across the board, and not just the poor LGBT community.

But yeah, thank you so much for asking!

[Vanguard1917]

I guess there's nothing wrong for a celeb to 'come out' in front of today's celebrity- and sex-obsessed global media machine if he or she feels it so important to do so, but i think that there's also nothing wrong with choosing to keep the details of your personal life out of the public eye. I have a great deal of respect for those artists, musicians, actors, sportspeople, etc., who refuse to abide by the wishes of the mainstream media and think that it is none of the whole world's business what their sexual orientations are.