Ricky Martin posts victory speech after resignation of Puerto Rico’s homophobic governor.
BY VICTOR MELAMD
Out pop star Ricky Martin took to Instagram last month to celebrate the resignation of Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló, reports queerty.com.
Rosselló’s resignation came after weeks of mass protests around Puerto Rico, in which a number of celebrities, including Martin, demanded action over his sexist, homophobic, and otherwise offensive remarks. The governor came under fire after nearly 900 pages of text and chat messages leaked.
The leaked messages between Rosselló and administration officials showed Rosselló using the word “faggot” repeatedly to refer to political rivals, many of whom are not gay. Officials also referred to rivals as “cocksuckers” and implied that they were gay as an insult.
The messages also targeted Ricky Martin himself at one point. Puerto Rico’s chief financial officer Christian Sobrino wrote that Ricky Martin is gay because he’s sexist.
“Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin,” Sobrino wrote. “Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he fucks men because women don’t measure up. Pure patriarchy.”
“We demanded respect and we were heard. Respect for our children, respect for our women, respect for the LGBT community, respect for our dead.”
Rosselló had initially apologized and said he would not resign, but would not seek reelection. After weeks of protests, the governor changed his mind. He stepped down last month.
Here is Ricky Martin’s celebratory Instagram message:
“Puerto Rico we did it. And we did it in peace. With no guns, like Gandhi. We demanded respect and we were heard. Respect for our children, respect for our women, respect for the LGBT community, respect for our dead. This will never happen again. We won’t let anyone walk all over us again. We will be attentive, vigilant. There’s so much to do now. It is now we need to work more than ever. We succeeded today because we were united. For many decades Puerto Rico was divided. NOT ANY MORE. I am hopeful of our new generation that is instinctively moving things forward. And now, we turn the page. I see a very bright future.
I now feel very calm as I celebrate. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions. From anger to joy (I’ve cried like crazy). This has been a birth.
We now can achieve anything we want. We are an example. No more corruption, no more trash. WE’VE RESCUED OUR ISLAND.
And now, go out to the streets. GO AND CELEBRATE but please DO NOT DROP THE BALL. EYES WIDE OPEN FROM NOW ON.
I want to thank the members of the press for keeping us informed. Thank you. Because of your outstanding job, the whole world listened. I am sure some ‘Leaders of the world’ won’t be able to sleep tonight. I’m sure some are nervous. We’ve written a powerful page in history tonight. PUERTO RICO, ESTAMOS BIEN.”
