As an open and visible transgender CEO, Martine always strives to be a positive role model for lesbian, transgendered and non-binary gender employees. She ensures that all of their employment policies are inclusive, treating all applicants and employees equally without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Martine has always been very open about her transition and gender identity, and led the company to issue an official statement opposing transphobic legislation. Externally, Martine regularly speaks on the importance of LGBT+ inclusion, and often gives one-to-one advice to people who have recently come out in the workplace. She keeps up an active profile on social media, has been widely featured in the media, and regularly discusses the importance of openness in her life and her work, including giving a TED talk on her transition story. Martine is a vocal advocate for trans rights, and wrote a book called “Apartheid of Sex: A Manifesto on the Freedom of Gender,” in which she argued that “forcing everybody to be either male or female is a kind of sexual apartheid. This is not scientifically accurate.” She was also in attendance at President Obama’s LGBT+ Pride reception in 2016.
