娱乐英语新闻:Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin admits being gay

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin on Monday publicly confirmed he is gay in a blog posting on his Web site, concluding years of speculation about his sexuality.

"I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man," Martin wrote in a blog posting at www.rickymartinmusic.com.

"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 were born with," Martin wrote.

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin waves to fans before being honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California Oct. 16, 2007. Martin is the 2,351st celebrity to be honored with the star

People have been speculating about the sexuality of the "Livin' La Vida Loca" singer for past years. In 2000, TV journalist Barbara Walters grilled him about whether he was gay, but he refused to disclose it.

Martin said he decided to reveal the truth after working on his memoirs helped him realize that he has to be free with himself, and not keep any more secrets.

Ricky Martin, aged 38, is a Puerto Rican pop singer who rose to fame, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991. His career peaked after the release of his 1999 self-titled English album "Ricky Martin." Since then, Martin has been a star in both North America and South America.

Martin, who is the father of two boys born via surrogate in 2008, said he couldn't continue to hide his sexuality now that he is a father: "Enough is enough. This has to change."