Singer Ricky Martin was granted Spanish citizenship by the Council of Ministers, reports the El Pais. Martin, born in Puerto Rico and residing in the United States, requested to be Spanish in March in order to marry his partner, economist Carlos Gonzalez, as Robyn Chelsea-Seifert writes in this report for The Examiner.

The couple are parents to three-year-old twin boys, Matteo and Valentino. “Spain is a country I share many sentiments with. I have had strong ties to the area because of my roots and loved it since I first visited,” Martin said. “Some time ago I made the request for Spanish citizenship and was waiting for them to respond.”

Martin said although same-sex marriage is legal in some states he wanted to marry in Spain to recognize Prime Minister Zapatero’s achievements in that country when he legalized gay marriage in 2005.

For years there was rumor and speculation surrounding Ricky’s sexuality, but in March 2010 he decided to publicly announce he was gay by writing an open letter to the world on his website declaing, “Today I accept my homosexuality as a gift that gives me life. I feel blessed to be who I am.”

Citing his autobiography, Me, as the impetus for making the announcement, Martin stated, “A few months ago I decided to write my memoirs, a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life. From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside. Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth.”

Martin, 39, acquired fame at an early age in the boy-band Menudo. The band served as a spring-board, when Martin left five years later and ventured into a successful solo career. In 1999, the Puerto Rican singing sensation hit pay dirt with his first English released self-titled album which included his first #1 hit Livin’ La Vida Loca.

In 2008, Martin and Gonzalez became fathers of twin boys through a surrogate. Another key factor Martin says played a role in his decision to come out.

“Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment. These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed,” Martin said.  “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.

For the original report go to http://www.examiner.com/music-news-in-san-francisco/ricky-martin-to-wed-spain-granted-spanish-citizenship