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."
Why is polygamy thrown in at the end of this story? That has nothing to do with equal rights. I really resent when a discussion about equal marriage rights leads people to shortcut to plural marriage. It is a separate, distinct issue and does not deserved to be lumped together with anything else.
 @drewinthecrew I got the impression that Chaka was referring to a traditional custom in her husband's native country, though it wasn't specified and I couldn't find a firm reference on where her husband is from. (She's married to Dr. Mandlela "Tiny" Mhinga.)
Â
If it turns out her husband is from one of the neighboring African countries, some of them do allow polygamy. The quote in this article basically says he'd be allowed to do this normally, but she wants him all to herself. I agree it's kinda off-topic with regard to gay rights and equality, but I don't think she was suggesting that polygamy should be considered in the same league.
Don't kid yourself Ricky, you came out every time you sang "Living la Vida Loca"...
I think maybe, we all knew he was gay before he did.
"...for many years, I loved on fear..."
Â
Shouldn't this be "...lived in fear?"
Why does this has been get a news story twice in the same week?Â