Ricky Martin today spoke at the United Nations’ on ”Leadership in the Fight Against Homophobia,” a panel discussion with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in honor of  Human Rights Day, yesterday.

Martin was asked about his experience coming out as a gay man, in 2010. He said he had lived his life in “fear,” and came out so his twin boys “could know their dad,” the real person, not a closeted gay man.

Martin says he grew up “with a very crooked concept: you’re gay — you belong in hell.” He says it took him a long time to “decode” and fight that idea, and wishes he could come out all over again because it was “incredible.”

“I wish I could do it again.”

Today, also, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said today, “I am here to again denounce violence and demand action for true equality,” in an extraordinary speech on LGBT equality.

Editor’s note: The New Civil Rights Movement will publish a full report from today’s conference tomorrow.

Tagged as: Ban Ki-moon, Coming out, homophobia, ricky martin, UN, Un Secretary General, United Nations

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