LGBTQ+ Oral Histories
Donna Martin
Donna Martin is a queer elder and life-long activist in Baltimore. Donna details her life growing up in the United Methodist Church and how she started her family at a young age. She was the key to her husband’s success as a pastor, but she became her own success after realizing who she really was when she came out as gay. Donna has worked closely with AIDS patients, lobbyists, and has testified for LGBTQ+ rights. She speaks about activism and aging, even organizing a march in her 70s. Donna’s passion for activism has allowed her to pass on her skills to people of all ages, giving tips to young activists who ask for her advice and teaching the course “You’re Never to Old to be an Activist” to seniors where she resides.
Themes: Family, Religion, 2nd Wave Feminism, Marriage, LGBTQ+ Activism, Aging
Recorded 4/27/2022