Puerto Rico: Why Ricky Martin led protests with the Pride flag

During Monday's protest, Ricky Martin with the diversity flag was the most prominent image since the protests began.

July 24, 2019

Ricky Martin, who publicly came out in 2010 through a video posted on his website, has become one of the most committed advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. He is now leading the call for Rosselló's resignation. “Fortunately, the chat was leaked, because it exposed everyone. They mocked our dead, they mocked women, they mocked the LGBTQ+ community, they mocked people with physical and mental disabilities. Enough is enough, this can't go on,” Ricky Martin said in a video posted on his Twitter account. Singers Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, and Residente have joined the calls for unity among the island's residents to force Rosselló's resignation. Since the chat's contents were released, marches to La Fortaleza, the governor's mansion, have continued unabated, with more people joining the demonstrations every day. “I’m going to walk with my people, with my community, we’re going to walk to La Fortaleza and let Ricardo Rosselló know that we don’t want him in power, that we’re tired of it. Puerto Rico has suffered so much and we can’t take any more of the cynicism of these leaders,” Ricky Martin said on his Twitter account. During Monday’s protest, the Puerto Rican singer waved the rainbow flag, becoming the most prominent image since the protests began. Meanwhile, Governor Rosselló has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2020 and will not leave office until his term ends. “I haven’t committed any illegal acts, and I haven’t committed any acts of corruption. I did commit some improper acts, and I apologized for them,” Rosselló said at a public event.

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