Whoo-hoo! Ricky Martin comes out, as "a fortunate homosexual man"
Congratulations to Ricky Martin for coming out today, and announcing he is “a fortunate homosexual man”.
Every club in Boystown is blaring La Vida Loca tonight, folks. Martin will now enjoy a career resurgence, especially if he starts shaking it up at Pride festivals and Market Days-type fests across the country this summer. He will be as embraced by the community, and as loved, as Neil Patrick Harris is. Good on him.
We’ve always really liked the guy — and it’s wonderful he’s stepped forward and admitted who he is.
Some of you out there don’t know how important this is, or how destructive the closet can be. The more famous people that come forward, especially men, and admit who they are the easier it is for young gays to be themselves, and to find acceptance in their families.
With entertainers, we believe coming out is 100% their call and we don’t agree with outing actors, singers, and others who make their living off their image, and do everything they can to craft an image to sell tickets, get the best ratings, and otherwise profit in the image-heavy, agent-managed, world of Hollywood.
Guys who are obvious closet cases, who have become jokes in the gay community, are people we, too, joke about. Tom Cruise and John Travolta, anyone? They are the Rock Hudson and Liberace of our time — so we’re not breaking any news there.
However, there are a few actors wh0 we know to be gay that we’ll never talk about, because they’re just becoming stars and we want these guys to succeed…so it’s their call when they want to come out. They’re really nice guys, too, one of which someone here has a brief connection with, so one day we hope they too come out — long before they become jokes like Tom and John.
With politicians, however, we firmly believe things are different — and Eric Massa proved that. Politicians who maintain a sham marriage, even with kids, and lead a double gay life on the side should be exposed for lying to their constituents. As Nancy Pelosi proved with Massa, everyone in the DNC and RNC knows who these guys are, know what they are up to, and know exactly what pressure to put on them to get them to do what the Party wants them to do.
Massa didn’t play Pelosi’s game, so she and Rahm Emanuel made sure all of his gay scandals came out, and he was forced to resign from Congress at a time when Pelosi needed to make an example of someone — so others out there with secrets could see that if they did not play along, they too would be destroyed.
Why give Nancy Pelosi that power? Why give Speaker Boehner that power when he takes Pelosi’s place next year?
Elected officials lie to their voters when they present a reality to them that is not true. If voters supported someone like Eric Massa because they believed he was a good family man, then we wonder how they would have voted if they had known about his gay frat house escapades.
Or, better question, if he had been out and open, would those frat house antics have taken place at all? Abuse of power like that happens when someone hiding a secret believes he’s getting away with whatever he wants — and people like Nancy Pelosi give them the impression they are untouchable.
It’s just a recipe for disaster, all those secrets.
It’s why we continue to push for Congressman Aaron Schock to just come out of the closet already too. We’ve personally seen him in gay bars here in Boystown. He seems like such a nice, smart, promising young man. We want him to come out and be himself before he ever ends up like an Eric Massa — getting up to who knows what in secret, while villains like Pelosi and others keep building files on him, which will be used to black mail and otherwise pressure him when the time arises.
Schock could be a Senator some day. Who knows, he could even be Vice President. And we think he can do that as an openly gay man in Illinois. The Left will not be able to hold any power over him, and will never be able to intimidate and bully him if he just comes out and tells the public who he really is.
We’d love all the gay Republicans in government to just come out — starting with Charlie Crist in Florida and running the gamut through Illinois’ Congressional delegation. Come out, be yourselves, take away the blackmailing abilities of Nancy Pelosi and others.
Ricky Martin did a great thing today. We wish more entertainers would do the same thing, but we respect their choices not to.
Politicians are different though, as there’s much more at stake with a closeted Congressman or Senator than there is with some singer from the 90s.
Eric Massa proved just how much leverage the wrong people have over the votes cast by closeted politicians — and we always wonder just how much arm-twisting has been successfully done by the likes of Pelosi, when the threat of doing what was done to Massa switched votes and made these men fall into line, when their constituents didn’t want them to and their districts suffered, all because these guys were scared of being outed.
Coming out switches the balance of power and only benefits all involved — while robbing the likes of Pelosi of one gruesome cudgel.
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That is too funny because I thought he had come out a long time ago!! LOL!
He is one gorgeous hunk! Too bad for all the ladies out there, but think of the lucky guy who snags him!!
I also thought it was public knowledge! I knew Ricky since his days in “Menudo” (I lived in PR where he is from). Everybody “knew” he was gay. I am glad he made it official.
Same… I thought he came out years ago. Are people even surprised or shocked anymore? Or is it like mentioning the fact that your a vegetarian?
I think Ricky already has a “husband” and he adopted a baby in the past year.
Wait a minute…
He came out of the closet a long time ago. About three years ago, if I remember correctly.
***
Closely related: Back in 1999-2000, Camille Paglia wrote about Ricky Martin in Salon and called it – right on target. She saw those videos of him gyrating and dancing while making the girls go nuts, and she immediately connected it to the only other artist who did exactly the same thing – George Michael. When I read that, I realized she was right.
I talked about that article to a couple of Spanish professors that I worked for at that time, and they both responded by talking to me about an interview he held with some other person (Barbara Walters? I dunno). When the professors told me he refused to answer questions regarding his love life, they perceived correctly the reason why. We all agreed then that he was gay, and ended the conversation right there.
(Full disclosure: I’m born and raised Puerto Rican in my mid 30s, which means I was a huge Menudo fan back in my kid days. And yes, all the girls went nuts for Ricky Martin back then. Not me: he was and is not really my favorite candy.)
Oh, man! I know you at Hillbuzz are celebrating this man coming out, but there are an awful lot of women out here going, NOT HIM. Well, you win some and lose some.
I am simply crushed! Had I known this when I got up today, I’da worn black in mourning! [seriously, I had no clue... gotta go cancel the reservations for the PR trip, and kiss the dreams ta-ta]
Lol.
Geez, I knew he was gay when he was on General Hospital, and I’m always the last to know. I thought it was common knowledge, well good for him. He is hot and talented.
LOL! I thought he came out many years ago.
Will Ricky do better than Clay Aiken?
So, does that make Obama in the closet, on the down low, or something in-between?
What? What?
What was that about
“President Larry Sinclair Obama?”
Clay Aikens is gay??????
WHAT? WHOA! No way,dude! Never would have guessed.
Well……..to be honest I was not really sure ( that whole metrosexual thing and all ) but I guess I am not suprised either.
I am beginning to understand what this means. I saw a tweet on Twitter today that said depression results from a lack of self disclosure. I believe that. When we are “people-pleasing people” and are living for others and not expressing ourselves, we are stunted. I am happy for Ricky and for you for being able to live authentic lives and be yourselves.
God bless all of you. We are all good enough, just the way God made us.
“I saw a tweet on Twitter today that said depression results from a lack of self disclosure.”
I totally believe this.
Seriously… did no one really NOT know that Ricky Martin was gay? I mean with a cheesy song like “La Vida Loca” how could he not?
I followed his career since Menudo and he’s one of those people who doesn’t know what to do with his career- singer or actor? Is such an announcement a cry for attention?
Why do people have to “announce” their sexuality? Does it matter? Call me confused.
Maybe this is Martin’s last gasp attempt of salvaging his career. Who knows?
In a perfect world, no one would feel compelled to announce their sexual orientation, but seeing as most people are assumed to be straight, it can be very difficult to feel as though you’re lying about who you are.
“Salvaging his career”?!?
Last time I checked, his career in Latin America’s doing just fine, thank you very much.
Ummm… yes, but I thought he wanted “global stardom.” He was very much into English language pop. And acting. And then, he quietly went away for awhile only to come back and again to say some political things against former Pres. Bush.
If Ricky wants to go for that niche market for his singing, then Latin America is okay. There’s other Latin singers like Shaqira who can fill the void… with both Spanish and English language albums.
BTW, I’m sorry if I insulted you in some way. I’m not a big Ricky Martin fan. When you’ve heard La Vida Loca over and over and over again it remains in infamy.
I had always speculated that he was gay. So now I know. His body in the picture looks like a Ken doll. Remember how the legs fit into Ken’s torso. Looks just like Ricky in that picture.
He’s still hot.
Not a shocker but it’s still got to be easier living your life without feeling like you have secrets to keep. I always liked him. Gay or straight, the man is nice to look at.
“Some of you out there don’t know how important this is, or how destructive the closet can be. The more famous people that come forward, especially men, and admit who they are the easier it is for young gays to be themselves, and to find acceptance in their families.”
Yep. Stuff has changed so much even since I was a kid – back then there were maybe three truly mainstream famous people who were out of the closet. (I was in sixth grade when Ellen Degeneres came out.)
“Or, better question, if he had been out and open, would those frat house antics have taken place at all? ”
Soo true Hillbuzz. That is one of the most pernicious consequences of The Closet. I think your insight speaks volumes about why and how the sexual abuse of children was able to flourish and poison the Catholic Church, or at least the priesthood. Catholic laypeople, nuns, etc excluded.
Love this post. Too bad Ricky is gay though — that photo is HAWT! LOL!
Love you Murphy. Thanks for dropping by.
do not exclude the nuns. They are not all that innocent. Gay activities still occurred in convents and boarding schools.
It happened when I was at school. I heard a name mentioned.
Simply delicious.
Who did Ricky have thoses two gorgeous children (pic of them as toddlers was on HuffPo) with?
A surrogate of some variety.
Adopted. Twins.
Mea culpa, mea culpa. My daughter informed me that Katie is 100% correct … he used the services of a surrogate. No wonder those kids are so stinkin’ cute!
I always figured he was gay, but that cinched it for me. When a guy like that has to PAY a woman to be artificially inseminated…uh,hello? My sweet PR friend is in mourning today..LOL.
Ricky’s twins were born using gestational surrogacy and they are his babies 100%!!
Actually, I thought he was dead, or at least permanently off the radar. Not that I mean that in a spiteful way. OTOH, I pretty much knew Rob Halford, lead singer (rather, amazing lead singer) for Judas Priest was gay back in 1982, though he came out in ’96 or so. (You read a few things, you notice the get-up, you pay attention, wham-o, you realize something.)
Now this is funny, if I may digress. There’s a “gay” piano bar here in S.F. called Martuni’s. A female colleague at the time had her 30th there about 4 years ago. Sometimes, the Liberace-looking queen at the big, white, grand would let you sing the songs and he did let me sing “Piano Man”, which I did fairly well. When I finish, he wants to tell me (and the audience, since he’s on mike) “about the time I met Billy Joel in Omaha, Nebraska in 1975, long before you were born.” I then told him that in 1975 I was 8. There was a chorus line-like sigh from the gentlemen at the bar when they realized that their hopes that night were all for naught. Great night and I trotted all the way home to Noe Valley fueled by pre-ordered vodka drinks.
Anyway, good for Ricky.
I was wondering when y’all would get around to posting on this. : )
An excellent analysis on why politicians should live honest lives.
On why everyone should live honest lives.
Not being true to yourself is so self-destructive.
Your point about giving people like Pelosi power over a politician who is in the closet is well taken. Do you remember how Government workers during the Cold War were blackmailed into giving up important defense secrets because the Russians knew about them? How much grief was caused by someone hiding their “secret” . I hadn’t thought about it being used as a weapon by politicians, but now I can see it as one way to force someone to vote your way. I think that any politician who tricks their constituents and/or their families, with such a lie should be “outed”. Any politician who uses such a secret to empower themselves is truly trash, and they need to be thrown out.
I’m betting quite a few of those “changed votes” in the House were just that. Nancy and Rahm the Enforcer took them into a back room and said “look, you can vote yes or we can tell your wife about the woman/man you keep at the Mayflower. Do you REALLY want your children to know that?”. They will now do her bidding till they crack or one of them leaves. I think it’s often a relief when they are found out(by the media) so that the anvil over their head goes away.
Shades of JEdgar Hoover.
Who had a few well-dressed skeletons in his closet.
“Did he or didn’t she change their vote because…. of their closeted lover?”
Joanne, from all I have read about that era and about gay history, far far far more straight men were successfully blackmailed by the KGB than were gays and lesbians. In fact I can not remember learning of a single gay or lesbian who was successfully blackmailed, but many straight men cheating on their wifes were successfully blackmailed.
Well, this should be in the “news that is not news” section. I had to laugh out loud when that was the feature news story when I logged onto Yahoo last night.
Reminds me of the joke, “I remember the first time I found out Clay Aiken was gay. It was when I saw his audition for American Idol”. Don’t these guys have friends who can tell them that 90% of the people strongly suspect, or already know?
And, do people really care anymore? If I like your music, I don’t care what you’re doing in the bedroom. I like John Mayer’s music, and he’s an IDIOT!
Excellent point Donna!
No mention of BHO as another closet case. What gives?
You mean “President Larry Sinclair Obama?”
Now I am wondering about Andrew Romanoff in Colorado. Always a very private, single man. If the Hillbuzz take on politicians staying in the closet holds water then it is time for Romanoff to level. One way or the other.
“.. if he had been out and open, would those frat house antics have taken place at all? Abuse of power like that happens when someone hiding a secret believes he’s getting away with whatever he wants … ”
Please explain the brothel in Barney Frank’s basement — the one run by Barney’s former squeeze. You remember, that lucrative little cottage industry Barney swore he didn’t know a thing about? Jesus, Mary and Joseph, there ain’t nobody “outter” than ol’ Bawney!
Can you imagine?! He had “no idea”, yet expects us to believe he’s on top of things in matters of national finance. The people in Massachusetts worry me…a man who threw someone else’s medals into a river and LOST to the “worst president ever”, a drunken philanderer who walked away from vehicular homicide and Barney.
They had a moment of clarity with Scott Brown, I hope it stays.
Barney says lay off him.
He was only in charge of quality control there!
Lol, I always think about Rush playing ABBA’s Dancing Queen, but changing the words to “Banking Queen” when Bawney Fwank’s name comes up.
Hopefully he won’t go all O’Donnell on us. She was nice. Came out. Became nasty, militant, and ugly.
Ugh Rosie…don’t you want to scream at the television “We KNOW honey, believe me we KNOW”. Her talk show back in the day was so funny and sweet.
It’s totally bizarre looking back at that now. She used to be known as this friendly lady who loved Koosh balls and Elmo…
This sucks!!! Another sexy male lost to the other team.
Are there no sexy heteros that can dance?
Reminds me of when I went to The Backstreet Bar in Atlanta with a gay friend of mine many years ago. When we went inside, I asked him which ones were the heterosexual men (since the bar attracted all types because of their really late hours). He pointed to 3 rednecks in the corner and said – “Them”. Of course the rest of the men in the bar were GORGEOUS!! Damn! Too bad.
Ricky waited untill he is multimillionaire to come out as homosexual. No problem with that. The problem is his gross laboratory making of two “sons” to fulfill his wako desire of becoming a daddy.
Sexual preferences are not problem BUT when people use money and fame to challenge God plan that is when I can’t stand him.
Ricky Martin conceived two children who are his sons. There’s no need to refer to them as his “sons” as though the quotes suggest they aren’t for real. He’s still a young man so there’s every reason to believe that he was fertile and used his own sperm samples with the donor eggs to have the twins via a gestational surrogate.
What’s “wako” (did you mean whacko?) about wanting to be a parent? Some gay men and women adopt. Gay women have been using donor sperm to conceive children for decades. It’s a lot harder for a gay guy to have children that are genetically his without having some sort of sham marriage. Frankly, I have a lot more respect for a guy who uses his honestly earned money to achieve his dream of being a parent on his own rather than “hiring” a wife.
Is this ideal? Hell no. Two parents is a better deal for everyone involved, but if he’s prepared to be a good single parent (or has a male companion as a co-parent) he’s probably ahead of many single parents. At least his sons will grow up knowing their dad wanted to have them very, very much and was willing to go through some pretty big hoops to have them in his life.
Men do not “conceive” children. Women do!
Children should be the result of love between two people(a man and a woman), not a twisted laboratory “sample”.
Ricky could accept his homosexualism without this “laboratory” excuse f parenthood. Homosexualism has its limitations, be a MAN and accept them!
Conception takes two parties contributing sperm and eggs. So yes, men do conceive. Generally, that conception takes place inside a woman as a result of an act of love between a man and a woman. Science has advanced to the point that it can help infertile couples conceive in a petri dish. That’s still an act of love. Sometimes the infertility extends to having to use donor sperm or donor eggs. The conception still is the result of love.
This is not a twisted lab sample. This is a wealthy man who wanted to be a parent and have children that were genetically related to him. He evidently found a woman willing to donate eggs and another woman willing to serve as a gestational surrogate. As long as all parties were willing and the resulting children are cared for – it’s not really our business. I wish him and the boys well. You’re welcome to disapprove of it as a violation of your moral code, but it’s legal. If it’s any consolation to you, the cost and difficulty of doing this is very high – few gay men will be able to afford this route to fatherhood.
Conception can only occurs in the woman’s womb. If God wanted his SON to be born out of a man he could have made men “conceive” and instead of talking to the Virgin Mary, he could have talked to St. Joseph.
But anyways, yes, in a democracy like ours a man can “hire” a womb, insert his sperm there are ENGENDER a “son”. Whether this sort of “womb hiring”, “money deals with ‘doctors’” and “pay per fatherhood” deals is LOVE is highly debatable.
But hey, it’s Ricky’s life right? He can do with his millions whatever he pleases. I wish I was a millionaire singer. I could affort going to the UN and denounce children traffiking or women abuses in Arab and Muslim countries!
Wowwwwwwwwww! Wait a minute hear. Are you telling me Rock Hudson was gay. And Liberace, the guy in the Sandman song. I’m thunderstruck.
Next you’ll try and tell me Cary Grant was too.
What??? I’m shocked!
This means Rock and Cary were telling the truth in “Pillow Talk” and “Bringing Up Baby” (respectively).
…”Cary Grant’s character is wearing a woman’s marabou-trimmed négligée, and when asked why replies, in an exasperated tone, “Because I just went gay all of a sudden!”, leaping into the air on the word “gay.”…. – from Wikipedia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8U6aUPW48
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8U6aUPW48
I would be more embaressed by my 11th grade picture than my sexuality! I might run for office if I didn’t think someone would get their hands on that picute with the BAD perm and blow it up on TV!
I have always loved Ricky and just love him even more now that he is being honest about himself.I wish him only the best.May God bless him and his family always.
In other news, Darth Vader is Luke’s father. Sorry to spoil the movies for you!!!
Gay, straight, bi … who cares…I want to see Ricky Martin make more videos with beautiful women, with great passionate story lines. Will this end because now we know about is personal life? Ricky Martin is a great singer, dancer and now it looks like he is also a great actor…. and I don’t care to know the intimate details of his personal life… I just want the fantasy.