Ricky Martin Speaks at Human Rights Campaign

 
PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 13, 2010

Pop star Ricky Martin says he's counting on the Human Rights

 Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights advocate, to make 

the U.S. more welcoming for families like his.

Martin, who came out gay in March and is the father of twin boys

 Valentino and Matteo, welcomed guests as they arrived at the 

group's 14^th annual National Dinner at the Walter E. Washington

 Convention Center in D.C. on Saturday.

“This is very simple. It took me a while but tonight I'm here and I want to 

say that I want to add my voice to yours. And I'm so happy to be part of this community,” a clearly elated Martin told the crowd.

“So as the father of two beautiful little boys, Valentino and Matteo, I'm
counting on HRC to make this country a more welcoming place for families
 like mine.

 And more importantly for those LGBT families that struggle everyday to
 just get by.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)

In addressing the crowd, Grammy-winning Pink said she doesn't want 

distinctions between gay and straight marriages.

The 38-year-old singer is expected to talk for the first time about 

coming out gay in his new memoir Me, set to hit bookstores in both 

English and Spanish on November 2.

BY ON TOP MAGAZINE STAFF