Love, etc.

: Ricky Martin says he is a "fortunate homosexual"

Out: Ricky Martin, who announced he's gay Monday. "I am proud to say that I am a
fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am," he said in a statement on
his Web site. The Latin pop star and father of two said he decided to write his memoirs a
few months ago, a project that freed him "from things I was carrying within me for a long
time." Martin said he wasn't sure how the news would affect his career: "It doesn't
matter. . . . The word 'happiness' takes on a new meaning for me as of today." 
PEOPLE: Describe this time in your life
MARTIN: I'm so happy! Everything they do, from smiling to crying, feels like a blessing. Being a
father feels amazing. This has been the most spiritual moment in my life. 

How hands-on are you as a father?

I don't have a nanny. I'm doing this on my own because I don't want to miss a moment. I have a
personal assistant who helps me, someone who takes care of me while I'm taking care of them,
but I'm the one who changes the diapers, the one that feeds them, the one that bathes them,
the one that puts them to sleep. For any parent, the first couple of months tend to get a little bit
intense. 

Why did you choose to become a parent via surrogate?

Adoption was one option, but it's complicated and can take a long time. Surrogacy was an
intriguing and faster option. I thought, 'I'm going to jump into this with no fear.' 

Tell us about Valetino's and Mateo’s personalities.

Valentino loves to sleep. I call him 'Mr. Peace and Love' because he's so chill and serene.
Matteo is more alert and active. He was up at 3 a.m. the other night and just hanging! 

What is your philosophy on raising your sons?

I love to read books to my sons and tell them stories. I play music for them so they develop their
own personalities. I want to give them information and raise them with honesty and love, and
give them self-esteem and a lot of acceptance. 

He was guarded about his sexuality for years and reserved about his new adventure as a family
man – now Ricky Martin is sharing his joy of becoming a father via a surrogate mother on
the Oprah Winfrey show. Ricky welcomed cameras to his home for a candid portrait of his
happy family home life for his interview with Oprah, in which he talks about his sons and his
sexuality for the first time. The 39-year-old Puerto Rican megastar quietly became father of twin
boys, called Matteo and Valentino, in August 2008. Previously, the star has only released
occasional pictures of himself with the two gorgeous children via his official Twitter account,
then 'came out' on his website in March this year. The singer said at the time: 'I am proud to say
that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.' But he has never
before opened up about becoming father or finally going public with his sexuality.

Coming out publicly as gay is no easy thing; I can only imagine what it must feel like for
someone so famous to come out on the public stage. My hope, the, is that the main focus of this
interview will be about his life as a new dad. I am really interested to hear how life has been
for Ricky since his sons came into his life. This sounds like it's Gonne be a great interview … I
can't wait to see it.