Ricky Martin Pushes Gay Rights in Puerto Rico

Crooner lobbies for changes to the law in his native country when it comes to equal rights for LGBT residents

Ricky Martin is calling on the government in his native Puerto Rico to stand up for gay rights.

In a blog post on his official website, the "Livin' La Vida Loca" superstar urged Puerto Rican politicians to grant equal rights to the LGBT community by supporting measures in the House of Representatives and the Senate that promote equality.

"The same rights for each and every citizen of Puerto Rico, that's what we are asking and that's what we hope to achieve, the country's justice and peace that we want to achieve," Martin said in a statement. "Puerto Rico has to join all the countries in the world that are at the forefront of the issue of human rights and equality."

Puerto Rico's el Nuevo Día newspaper reported on Tuesday that the 41-year-old singer is asking Governor Alejandro García Padilla and legislators to extend legal protections to the island's LGBT residents by passing Senate Bill 238 and House Bills 488 and 437.

Initiative 238 proposes prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in any governmental, public or private workplace; 437 would eliminate a provision barring gay couples from adopting; and bill 438 would amend domestic violence laws to include provisions that apply to same-sex couples.

No word yet when Puerto Rico lawmakers will take up the matter.

Martin, who has become a vocal gay rights advocate since coming out three years ago, currently appears as a coach on Australia's version of The Voice.