Singer Ricky Martin has defended coming
out gay ahead of a concert in Nicaragua.
“Yes, I am a gay man, and I'm looking
for my rights,” the 39-year-old Martin told reporters on Friday,
Mexican news agency Notimex reported.
Although, “there are two or three
people who are uncomfortable by my nature, I have no control over how
they feel. I simply want to live in peace and continue singing,”
he added.
Martin was discussing reports that an
ecumenical group of religious leaders in Honduras had attempted to
keep the singer from entering the country for his Sunday concert at
the Choci Sosa stadium in Tegucigalpa. Officials last week announced
that the concert will proceed but, citing the show's “erotic
content,” children under 15 will not be allowed to attend.
Martin came out gay last year on his
blog – writing that he was “a fortunate homosexual man” – and
subsequently talked about his experience in his memoir Me. He
lives with his boyfriend Carlos Gonzalez and his twin sons Mateo and
Valentino.
The singer also mentioned his
non-profit group Ricky
Martin Foundation.
“Unfortunately, there are children
who are forced to enter the world of prostitution and pornography,
and this happens everywhere around the world. And I've been working
against that for eight or nine years,” Martin said.