Teacher of English at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. One of the short stories by Martin is Anchorage Alaska found in the book Hometowns.

"You know, I hear people say they don't understand why gay people have to make such a big deal about being gay - why we have to have parades and gay organizations and whatnot - and I think that they just don't understand. Being quiet about who you are causes such misery.

I kew people who killed themselves rather than live with the torture of being told that something was wrong with them. And it wasn't that they were weak people - they just couldn't stand the pressure of being told every day of their lives that they didn't deserve to be happy, that they were abnormal or sick. I don't want anyone to have to live like that ever again."

Quote source: Outspoken: Role Models from the Gay and Lesbian Community