Driving Change for Trans Awareness: Charlie Martin Shares Her Advocacy Work in Motorsport

In the world of motorsport, visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals has historically been scarce. However, for one trailblazer, coming out on Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) in 2018 marked a significant stride toward inclusion and awareness in an industry largely uncharted in terms of LGBTQ+ representation. For Trans Awareness Week, Britain’s racing car driver Charlie Martin talks to myGwork about her trans activism work in motorsport, and what more the sporting world can do to improve trans inclusion and awareness. 

 Image credit: Jamie Price, Andrea Sciarra, Eros Maggi 

Hi Charlie, can you tell us about your current role/advocacy work in the trans inclusion/awareness, space?

I came out in my industry (motorsport) in 2018 on TDOV, at a time when there really wasn’t any LGBTQ+ visibility in this space, so a lot of my activism is just that – being open and visible in a way that can empower positive awareness and acceptance. I work with a number of charities, most notably as a Stonewall Sports Champion, as well as Racing Pride. I also work as a keynote speaker away from the track, sharing my story with organizations like Google, BMW, Adidas and O2.

What initiatives are you involved in to mark Trans Awareness Week this year?

Motorsport UK, the UK’s governing body for four-wheel motorsport, has just this week launched a Trans Inclusion Policy which is a World first for an FIA national sporting body. I’m proud to contribute on MSUK’s LGBTQ+ inclusion committee, and I am helping to promote this policy in the media this week – I filmed an interview with Sky Sports explaining why it’s so important.

Can you tell us a bit about your personal transition journey?

Like a lot of people from my generation, I waited what felt like a long time to transition mainly due to a lack of understanding and acceptance in society. When I finally committed, I gave up on motorsport as I couldn’t ever imagine it being okay, and going back a year later was tough. While it’s not been easy, I’ve had some amazing support in all aspects of my life; I couldn’t be where I am today without it.

What were some of the most difficult challenges that you faced along the way?

A genuine lack of awareness was a big factor. Most people hadn’t met a trans person before and I think this is still a problem for many people today. They are worried about saying or doing the wrong thing.

 Image credit: Jamie Price, Andrea Sciarra, Eros Maggi 

In your opinion what are some of the biggest challenges that people in the trans community still face, especially at work, and what can organizations do to help them overcome them?

I think a big area of opportunity for progress lies in helping people to understand what effective allyship looks like. Often people are scared of making mistakes, and this leads to inaction or simply withdrawing from engaging with people. It’s the exact same issue I had to confront in the race paddock. The key is education and creating empathy. Put simply we just need to listen and connect.

What advice can you offer someone who’s considering transitioning right now?

Sadly, the UK is at a historical low point in terms of support available for trans people looking to access medical support, but there are a lot of support groups. We are an incredibly strong and resourceful community. Personally I found the experience of connecting with others (online and IRL) early in my transition immensely helpful. I made some lifelong friends and we helped each other get through a lot.

How important is trans inclusion, especially on the sports/race track?

Trans inclusion in sport is a big topic; and unfortunately one that’s often misunderstood and factually misrepresented in the media. While motorsport avoids many of the issues other sports face due to it being a mixed sport (men and women race together), it’s absolutely vital that everyone feels welcome however they identify. Living authentically has had such a dramatic effect on my performance as an athlete that I cannot underestimate the importance of creating inclusive environments where people feel able to be themselves – whether that’s on the race track or in the boardroom.

In your opinion, how important are trans allies to promote inclusion?

We are living at a time when we need allies to be vocal and emphatic in their support of trans rights. Globally the community is under attack from so many angles that it’s not enough to assume that being passive implies acceptance. If we are going to turn the tide of discrimination, then we really do need everyone to stand up and make it a priority to visibly support us as allies.

How are you personally promoting trans inclusion in the racing world?

In recent years I’ve come to appreciate that when I go racing I have to be 100% focused on the job at hand to achieve the best possible result. My teammate Jason Keats, CEO of OSOM Products (our title sponsor) is personally very committed to all forms of inclusion; and we’ve added the Progress flag to our Lamborghini’s color scheme, so that’s a very visible way to fly the flag throughout the season. I generally believe the best way to build on that is to be your best and be on the podium come race day; that’s a win in all senses.

 Image credit: Jamie Price, Andrea Sciarra, Eros Maggi 

What more can sporting organizations do to improve trans awareness and inclusion?

I think MSUK has done very well by engaging and listening to the trans and non-binary people within the sport, before working collaboratively on a policy that reflects their needs and it provides effective resources for anyone seeking guidance in motor racing. I can only hope that other sports follow a similar approach instead of adopting a herd mentality and pandering to the media and political pressure.

What's your all-time favorite movie/show and how many times have you watched it?

Haha Top Gun I guess - having watched it countless times. I wanted to be a fighter pilot as a kid – that’s where is all began. I loved the sequel last year – well worth the wait.

What's your most favorite holiday destination to date?

I’m always torn between the mountains and the sea as I love hiking and surfing, and those make up some of my favourite holiday memories. We had a pretty amazing trip to Lake Garda in August too. I’d happily go back there.

What do you do to unwind at the end of the day?

I love trail running around the South Downs – my girlfriend is a PT so we’re always exercising outdoors. That said we love playing pool – we’re both very competitive (in a good way) so a few hours of pool is always a nice way to relax.

 Image credit: Jamie Price, Andrea Sciarra, Eros Maggi