Cabinet minister tells radio host 'I am gay'

One of Ireland's most prominent politicians announced on Sunday that he is gay, becoming the first openly homosexual Cabinet minister in Irish history, four months before a referendum on same-sex marriage in the traditionally Catholic country.

Seen as a potential contender to succeed Prime Minister Enda Kenny as leader of the ruling center-right Fine Gael party, Health Minister Leo Varadkar made the announcement in an interview on national broadcaster RTE.

"I am a gay man. It's not a secret but not something that everyone would necessarily know, but it isn't something I've spoken publicly about before," said Varadkar, 36.