Derrick Martin

Derrick Martin (November 13, 1991 in Phoenix, AZ) is an American LGBT activist who, in April 2010, achieved notoriety when he became the first openly-gay high school student at Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Georgia to attempt to bring his boyfriend Richard Goodman to the high school prom. Unlike the case of Constance McMillen, whose case of discrimination by her Mississippi school board went to court, Bleckley County HS allowed Martin to bring his boyfriend to the prom without external pressure, resulting in protests by anti-gay locals against the district and his own parents forcing him out of residence from their home. However, the prom was reported as having proceeded smoothly.

Martin later received accolades and support from various LGBT organizations and spoke at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards ceremony. Shortly after registering at Georgia State University, he founded Project LifeVest, a non-profit organization that supports homeless LGBT youth.