Ricky Martin: Religious Leaders Want To Block Artist From Entering Honduras

An ecumenical group of religious leaders have demanded that the Honduran government deny a visa to Ricky Martin, arguing that he represents a bad moral example for the country's youth.

The pop star, who is set to perform in the country on Oct. 16 in the Chochi Sosa stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras as part of his Música + Alma + Sexo (MAS) tour, has church leaders scrambling to halt his entrance, reports the Honduran daily El Heraldo.

The Minister of Interior of Honduras, Áfrico Madrid, claims that Evangelical and Catholic leaders have solicited that he deny a visa to Martin in order to “protect the moral and ethical principles of our society.”

Madrid claims that the religious leaders particularly object to Martin's non-traditional family. “His nuclear family is not the type of family that Honduran society, and laws, approve of."

Martin came out as a “fortunate homosexual man” March of last year, via his Twitter account. He lives with his partner and his two children.

Despite the Minister's comments, El Heraldo reports, sources from the Honduran secretary of state's office say that they have not received any written petitions to deny Ricky Martin entry into the country.

You can reach Alexandra Gratereaux at: [e-mail] or via Twitter: @GalexLatino

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Comments

[Sean Porter]

12:00 PM on 10/07/2011

Don't these religious leaders having anything better to do in Honduras (you know like helping the impoverished), rather than carp about Ricky and his family which is none of their business anyways?

[22Keys]

03:59 PM on 10/04/2011

It's not just religious, it is cultural as well. The homophobia and misogyny within machismo culture is not exactly a secret.

[JacksonHts]

12:07 AM on 10/09/2011

Homophobia is present in Latino machismo culture, but not particularly more so than in the popular white southern culture of the US. The article is about an attempt by religious ministers to seek denial of entry to a popular musician. It would be like Jerry Falwell seeking to block a visa for Boy George or Elton John to enter the country to perform. And there are those who have suggested that some of what you call machismo culture has a lot of latent gay elements to it.

[22Keys]

02:31 PM on 10/09/2011

I am equally critical of American southern culture (white and black).

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

02:44 PM on 10/04/2011

There have been reports of clergy from virtually every denomination abusing children. The Catholic Chruch no longer has the monopoly on kiddie diddling there have been charges lodged against rabbis,imans,reverends, et all.........

The old saying about throwing stones from glass houses clearly applies to those associated with any religon and clearly many have been lacking in their efforts to "protect the moral and ethical principles of our society".........................

One would suggest you stop tossing stones from the porch of said glass house................

[rMatey]

02:39 PM on 10/04/2011

Probably because he's not a gaucho, but a gaii caballero.

[Doug Watt]

10:01 AM on 10/04/2011

I don't like Martin either, haven't forgiven him for his kissing up to Bush at the unaugural, but refusing him entry won''t fly.

[rockysparks]

05:38 AM on 10/04/2011

He's the loving father of two beautiful sons. What do these clerics have against fathers and families?

We love you, Ricky!

[crnlrobert]

03:33 AM on 10/04/2011

Why doesn't he just perform in neighboring Nicaragua and/or gay-friendly Costa Rica instead? Sounds to me like it's more than just Catholic and Evangelical religious leaders who have a problem with Ricky Martin in Honduras.

[Michael Ludin]

12:49 PM on 10/04/2011

the countries in Central America are not interchangeable.

[Tanrioldu]

10:10 PM on 10/03/2011

Typical religious bigotry

[Jampa]

09:07 PM on 10/03/2011

Seems there will always be someone somewhere full of so much Hate they attempt to spread it and solidify their hate and fear and take everyone else with them.

Freedom is Never Won * Freedom must always be fought for *
Someone is always trying to take away what is yours. Remember that.
Gay or Straight, Black, white, and every shade in between. What ever religion.

Keep the faith that every one of us has freedoms and liberties that many died to bring us, not once, but decade after decade, century after century, someone is fighting oppression and subjugations. And it is our privilege to be able to keep fighting for the freedoms of all of us.

[arecibo48]

08:50 PM on 10/03/2011

Very few people have done as much to help children.

[imsixftsix]

06:30 PM on 10/03/2011

Oh, I'm being slimed by Christianity....

[Albert Ray DOrazio]

05:08 PM on 10/03/2011

Oh please. Homophobes need to get beyond the fact that some people are simply born gay.

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

02:39 PM on 10/04/2011

I appreciate the thought, however ALL Gay people are BORN Gay...........................

[Albert Ray DOrazio]

03:51 PM on 10/04/2011

That was my point

[learninglife]

04:55 PM on 10/03/2011

Oh for the day when religion can no longer be used as a front for prejudice and ignorance.

[nanz1115]

06:55 PM on 10/03/2011

I could not agree with you more. I, myself am tired of people hiding behind their church.

[ceb79]

04:49 PM on 10/03/2011

Ahh... but it's alright for priests who prey on children to come and go as they please? More bassackwards hypocrisy from the religious right! Such a laughing stock.

[LorenaG]

03:51 PM on 10/03/2011

What? they don't have gay people in Honduras? please!

[lacrosselamore]

04:19 PM on 10/03/2011

They barely have a culture.