Martha Abernathy

Ancestors

Daughter of [private father (1940s - unknown)] and [private mother (1940s - unknown)]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Martha Abernathy [send private message]

Biography

My name is Martha Abernathy, but my nickname is Marti/Marty. I'm transgender, so websites like this don't have a space to put me in a neat little box. From a genealogy perspective, I'm an enigma.

On October 17, 1967, I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Community Hospital East around 9:00 AM. Other than that, my birth is shrouded in family secrecy (primarily because of my mother). There are no baby pictures of me that I'm aware of, and this is the first photo I have of myself is from the age of 6 months old.

Early in my young life, I questioned if Russell Abernathey was my biological father, but my mother insisted he was and gaslit me for thinking otherwise. When I transitioned gender legally in 2007, I went to the health department to change my birth certificate. It was only then that I had my young childhood suspicions confirmed when the clerk apologized for the long delay by saying, "I'm sorry you've had to wait so long, but we keep the adoption birth certificates in another location." In 2018 I did an AncestryDNA test and found my biological father, James Sherriff.

After I graduated high school, I wasn't sure what I would do with my life. In 1988 I started working as a transporter at St Francis Hospital in the imaging department. In 1994 I graduated college with an Associate of Applied Science in Radiology degree.

When I transitioned my gender in 2001, I founded Transadvocate.com, of which I was the managing editor until 2012. I've worn many different hats in my life, including that of podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist.

I've been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, TransFM, and Sodium Pentathol Sunday. Currently, I have a podcast/Youtube channel called "The T-Party with Marti Abernathey."

As an advocate, I've previously been involved with the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality, and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. I've taken vital roles as a grassroots community organizer in The Indianapolis Tax Day Protest (2003), The Indy Pride HRC Protest (2004), Transgender Day of Remembrance (2004), Indiana's Witch Hunt (2005), and the Rally At The Statehouse (the largest ever GLBT protest in Indiana - 3/2005).

In 2008 I was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee. I was a guest at the White House by President Barack Obama in 2011.

I currently live in the United Kingdom (near Rochester). These days my focus is on the future and making a better life. I enjoy digital photography, running, walking, and biking. I enjoy volunteering for political, queer, and progressive organizations. I'm learning to speak Portuguese. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my friends and the people who love me. It's what makes life worth living.

this is a link to my pre-adoption profile so that I can link my step-father step-father's family tree. I do this out of as a sign of respect. He wasn't biologically my father, but was there for me and was a parent to me.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Martha Abernathy at registration.