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Ricky Martin used to bully gay men when he was younger.
The 41-year-old singer ? who came out in 2010 after struggling for years to accept his sexuality ? admits he was homophobic in his teen years and early 20s because he didn't want to accept he was attracted to men as it went against his religious beliefs as a Roman Catholic.
Speaking to GQ Australia magazine, he said, "I was very angry, very rebellious. I used to look at gay men and think, 'I'm not like that; I don't want to be like that; that's not me.' I was ashamed.
"When you're told you're wrong by everyone, from society, from your faith ? my self-esteem was crushed. I took my anger out on those around me. I look back now and realise I would bully people who I knew were gay."
Ricky kept his homosexuality a secret for many years, even when he achieved worldwide fame as a solo singer in the ’90s after a stint in Puerto Rican boy band Menudo.
It wasn't until March 2010 ? almost two years after his twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, were born via a surrogate ? that Ricky admitted he was gay in an emotional post on his official website.
The Livin' la Vida Loca singer ? who’s now in a committed relationship with economist Carlos González Abella ? knew he had to come out for the sake of his sons.
He explained, "I didn't want them growing up in a house of lies . . . or thinking that there was something wrong with being gay."
-Bang Showbiz
