Los Angeles, CA–I’ve long criticized the Single Motherhood by Choice movement for ignoring the importance of fathers and the two-parent family. Now singer Ricky Martin has decided to have motherless children. From Ricky Martin Father of Twin Boys Via Surrogate Mother (Associated Press, 8/20/08):
There won’t be much “livin’ la vida loca” for Ricky Martin these days — he’s now the father of twin boys.
The Latin superstar had the children via a surrogate mother, and the babies were born a few weeks ago, according to a statement from his representatives.
“The children, delivered via gestational surrogacy, are healthy and already under Ricky’s full-time care,” said the statement. “Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children.”
A representative said there was no further information on the details of the children’s birth.
Martin, 36, is a multiplatinum singer who is best known for English-language hits like “She Bangs!” and “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” In recent years, the Puerto Rican star has been active in charitable efforts, including the prevention of sexual exploitation of children.
It is nice to see a father being portrayed positively, as Martin is. And I can certainly understand his hesitance to have children through marriage, since the mother could divorce him and push him to the margins of his children’s lives on her whim. Nevertheless, children need mothers just like they need fathers, and the two-parent family is what’s best for kids.
I disagree with Martin’s decision–children need both a mother and a father. There has been wide speculation that Martin is gay, which he denies. If he is gay, that changes the issue a bit.
Martin says, “I love women and sex. I am a real hot-blooded Puerto Rican, but have never been attracted by sex with a man.”
To learn more about the problems with the Single Motherhood by Choice movement, see:
1) My co-authored column Are Single Mothers the ‘New American Family?’ (World Net Daily, 9/28/06)
2) My debate on Fox’s nationally-syndicated Morning Show with Mike and Juliet — to watch, click here.
3) My co-authored column Why Dads Matter (Houston Chronicle, 6/18/06)
4) My column Raising Boys Without Men: Lesbian Parents Good, Dads Bad (World Net Daily, 9/10/05)