Ricky’s Cup Of… Er, Life

International News, By Joal, 28th August, 2008

Ricky Martin won’t be “livin’ la vida loca” anymore, because he’s now the full-time carer of two baby boys – born to the latin singer by a surrogate mother, and according to his website, “Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent”.

Although we haven’t heard much out of him recently, the Spanish singing superstar made it big in the late-nineties before making the cross-over to singing in English in 1999.

In the past there’s been a great deal of speculation as to which way the sexy star ‘swings’. Last year his skin care technician set the tabloids aflutter when he said that Ricky was gay. Although Ricky left questions unanswered for some time, he was later quoted in a magazine interview saying “I perceive the contemporary world as an open forum, where nothing is taboo except criminal activity. If I were gay, why not admit it?… I am a normal man. I love women and sex. I am a real hot-blooded Puerto Rican, but have never been attracted by sex with a man.”

Watch this clip of Barbara Walters grilling Ricky Martin about his sexuality in an interview in 2000:

Born on August 20, while their names and the name of the children’s mother remains a mystery, the star’s two sons are now in Martin’s full time care. Martin’s publicist says he will spend the remainder of the year out of the spotlight, spending quality time with his new family instead.

Although Martin has been linked romantically with a number of women in the media, dating Mexican TV host Rebeca de Alba on and off for over 14 years before ending the relationship in 2003, he is currently raising the two toddlers alone.

Martin is also known for his volunteer work and more recently for his opposition to President George Bush. Sticking up his middle finger when he sang Bush’s name during a performance early in 2007, when later asked about it Martin said that his “convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda” and that as long as he has a voice as a performer, he will “always condemn war and those who promulgate it.”

The friends I am staying with, John & Pepe decided to have a Christmas day party and it was fun. Met lots of new friends and reintroduce to others I had just recently met.

I most enjoyed the warmth and frienship love that was evening gave, much like my Oak Cliff Hommies group! It was something for me to again be at a party where Spanish was the only language spoken, I felt so International.

So onward to New Years!

Click the picture below for a slide show of the party. Photos by Jesus Chairez

Here are several entries in one post, something I am calling Pata de Perro. Click images for a slide show and all photos by Jesus Chairez.

Picture below is of graffiti on the streets of Mexico City near La Zona Rosa. This graffiti of Alfalfa was on a taco stand and I most like how the screws were used for the eyes.

I thought I had died and gone to Heaven when I ran into two Lucha Libre stores during my walking around.

Went to another Gay Posada given by Jose Luis Castillo y Luis Bautista in their home near the Metro Montezuma. They are both members and organizers of GHAI es un grupo de convivencia, socializacion y activismo pro derechos humanos de la comunidad LGBT de la Ciudad de México. For more information see http://ghaimex.hi5.com/

While on one walk I ended see my poetry reading, a piano concert and then first Pastorela given by a well talented theater group. It was informative and fun.

Rosa Lopez had her 39thBirthday Party recently

at

Calle Doce in Oak Cliff Texas.

It was fun, lots of friends, lots of food & booze and best of all lots of laughs.

 

Photos by Jesus Chairez, 214-826-8869 ChairezStudio [at] gmail.com

A young Nicaraguan man who says he fears he will be killed in his home country because of his sexual orientation has gone into hiding in Toronto after his latest bid to stay in Canada failed.

Alvaro Orozco, 22, has been holed up at a friend’s place since Thursday, when his refugee claim was denied, but came out briefly over the weekend to speak to CBC News.

“Most of the time, I’m hiding because I’m not supposed to be anywhere. I feel like a fugitive. It’s really bad,” said Orozco.

His case made headlines in Canada and Nicaragua in February when the Immigration and Refugee Board denied him asylum saying they didn’t believe he was gay.

His lawyer filed a motion to reopen the refugee claim. Again, he was denied.

He based his refugee claim on the fact that it is against the law to be gay in Nicaragua, where an anti-sodomy law was enacted in 1992.

Gay Nicaraguan refugee ordered to leave Canada

Canada’s board of citizenship and immigration has ordered a gay Nicaraguan man to immediately return to his native land after two years of living in Toronto while trying to seek asylum.

Alvaro Orozco, 21, said he fled Nicaraga when he was 12 because of harsh sodomy laws and abuse from his father for being gay.

“I was so scared,” he said in the May 22 issue of The Advocate. “I remember going to church—my family is Catholic—and many times I heard the priest say that gay people will go to hell. It was then I knew I had to leave, that I couldn’t grow up here. I
couldn’t wait until I was 18.”

Orozco hitchhiked through Central America, Mexico, and then to Texas after swimming across the Rio Grande. When he reached the United States, he was detained and then transferred to a Catholic Charities facility. He eventually fled and lived in the U.S. for five years but was drawn to Canada because of its less stringent immigration laws.

In 2005, Orozco’s request for asylum was rejected because a member of the Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board did not believe he is gay.

His attorney, El-Farouk Khaki, told The [Toronto] Globe and Mail that he will continue to fight the decision. (The Advocate)

500,000 celebrate GLBT Pride in Mexico City

México City, MÉXICO – The 29th annual Pride Parade (XXIX Marcha del Orgullo Lésbico, Gay, Bisexual y Transexual (LGBT), titled “, “Nombrando realidades… cambiemos sociedades” (Naming Realities – Changing Societies) in México City was held Saturday, June 30, 2007. AND it was the best yet!!

The Pride March, of 220,000 marchers and over 100 entries, started at the Angel of Independence on the Paseo de la Reforma, México City’s grand avenue originally built in the 1860’s by Emperor Maximilian.

From the Angel we all moved though México City’s Central Historical district and ended at the Zócalo where México’s National Palace, the México’s central seat of government is located – think White House.

The beginning of the parade was lead by “Colectivo T” (Collective T: Transgender, Transsexual, and Travesti) and Lesbians.

Super Gay, a gay Lucha Libre persona that fights homophobia in México City said the Marcha was the largest he has seen, if you “Take in consideration this year the marcha entered the Zocalo for the first time ever using two different streets, 5 de Mayo and Madero.” Though there were 220,000 participants in the parade it was more like 500,000 people total at the event when you take into account those watching from the sidelines.

I would say that this year’s event was the largest pride parade because México City and the state of Coahuila just this year allowed Civil Unions. People from all the county México came to show their pride and to celebrate their ability to finally have civil unions.

The following day, México City’s newspapers downplayed the significance this years gay pride parade by indicating that there were only 15,000 to 18,000 people at the event!!!

One newspapers headlines concerning the parade said, that some participants at the parade did not dress like “mariposas” (fags). So it’s like, WOW, some of these gay people look like straight.

Though México City may have become politically liberal, there is still a lot of work to be done concerning LGBT sensitivity that needs to be practiced by the Mexican media.

To view all the XXIX Marcha del Orgullo Lésbico, Gay, Bisexual y Transexual (LGBT) 2007 pictures taken in Mexico City, MEXICO on Saturday, June 30, 2007.  Pictures by Jesus Chaírez ©

  Please click the photo below to see the slide show

photo of Super Gay

WORLD IN BRIEF: Washingtonpost.comWednesday, June 20, 2007

BOGOTA, Colombia – A landmark gay rights bill passed by Colombia’s Congress last week was thrown out when a group of senators used a procedural vote to change their minds on the measure.

Despite minimal differences in the lower house and Senate texts, a handful of senators used Tuesday’s vote to back away from the measure, opposed by Colombia’s powerful Roman Catholic church.