(HMG) – After over a decade of coy deflections and tissue denials, Ricky Martin has decided to settle the doubts and be up-front with his tastes…

The rumors regarding Rick’s ‘menu selections’ have dogged him for years, but things really flared after his 2000 chat with ABC’s Barbara Walters, in which he offered this golden prose, “I think that sexuality is something each individual should deal with in their own way. And that’s all I have to say about that.’   Earlier this month, Walters revealed she regretted trying to force Martin to come out and may have ruined his career in the process.

Martin admits he never revealed his sexual preferences because people advised him not to. “Many people told me: ‘Ricky it’s not important,’ ‘it’s not worth it,’ ‘all the years you’ve worked and everything you’ve built will collapse,’ ‘many people in the world are not ready to accept your truth, your reality, your nature.’ Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth. Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions,” he adds.

So ten years since the Walters interview  the 38-year old Puerto Rica-born single dad ( he has two young sons delivered by surrogate) has finally just posted the following message on his official Web site (via PopEater), telling the world he is gay.

“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 … I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am,” he wrote.
“What will happen from now on? It doesn’t matter. I can only focus on what’s happening to me in this moment. The word ‘happiness’ takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution,” Marin continues.