AceShowbiz -

Ricky Martin proudly collected his Vito Russo kudo at the recent GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday night, March 19. The Latin singer, who "came out" as gay last year, said, "I just want to be free. I can say today I'm free. And for that I definitely need to thank my parents for being so supportive, my mother and my dad for their unconditional love, and my friends, my family, my fans. And my partner in crime and my boyfriend Carlos."

At the end of his speech, he added "Let's share the love! Let's go to Mexico! Let's go to Columbia! Let's go to Argentina! Let's go to Chile! Let's go to Brazil! We need you GLAAD - we need you down there," he said at the New York ceremony. "I can help, I can do it! I'll be part of it. I want to be part of it."

Additionally, an episode on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", which featured Oprah Winfrey interviewing Ricky, was named Outstanding Talk Show Episode. It's titled "Martin Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad" and aired November 2010.

The other winner included Scissor Sisters for Outstanding Music Artist ("Night Work"). CNN's Anderson Cooper, and newspapers The Star-Ledger as well as The Denver Post, and online magazine Essence.com were among the honorees as well.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's New York event was hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen. Additional awards will be presented in Los Angeles on April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure, and in San Francisco on May 14 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

Watch Ricky Martin's acceptance speech after receiving the Vito Russo Award at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York!

Visit glaad.org for complete list of GLAAD Media Award recipients.