I grew up in a poor, conservative Christian family in Texas — in a town called White Settlement. (Yes, that is the actual name.) My family wasn’t just religious; they were ministers, deeply entrenched in the church. I grew up under a pulpit’s gaze, learning early that everyone was performing — myself included.

In a world where women couldn’t even give the morning announcements, I — a queer theatre-loving kid — didn’t exactly fit the mold. So, I turned to a place where I could be
expressive, unapologetic, a rebel: theatre. Acting became my escape, my rebellion, my sanctuary. Where faith demanded obedience, storytelling allowed me to question, to explore, to create.

Now based in NYC, I'm an award-winning professional actor, writer, filmmaker, and director, best known for my work that blends bold storytelling with social impact. As a survivor, trauma influences nearly every aspect of my work, however, my curiosity lies in what happens after trauma — how survivors continue, create, and build in spite of their past. I’m fascinated by the subtle ways trauma reshapes identity, manipulates relationships, and quietly influences how we
move through the world. Trauma doesn’t always announce itself loudly; it seeps into conversations, into silence, into laughter, into gestures and glances. It’s both pervasive and
invisible, powerful precisely because it refuses to stay neatly defined.

That’s the heart of my play, Bonded, which Bellamy Young and I will read at the event — a raw, authentic view of survivorship seen through two survivors simply talking. Something that makes the play feel subversively radical and tragically rare. It doesn’t dramatize trauma or exploit pain
for dramatic effect; instead, it explores how trauma shapes relationships, how it becomes an invisible, shared language. This authenticity is crucial, especially because survivor stories are so often sensationalized or sanitized, their complexity flattened or exaggerated to make
audiences comfortable. That’s why my collaboration with MenHealing matters deeply to me. This fundraiser isn’t just about the art itself; it’s about creating access. It’s about ensuring survivors see themselves honestly and compassionately represented, and to showcase
avenues for self-expression.

Because the truth is, survivors aren’t defined by trauma. We are anxious, confident, outspoken, quiet, generous, selfish, hilarious, awkward, creative, angry, forgiving — we’re a multitude of amazing, complicated things. We’re human. Bonded aims to honor that complexity through
storytelling.

In a sense, my younger self — the kid who refused to conform, who was the first child in my family not to pursue ministry — is still here. That rebellion hasn't faded; it’s evolved. I create work that pushes boundaries socially and politically. Perhaps this is my own form of ministry after all, one rooted in community, authenticity, compassion, and truth.

Artist Bio

Tyler Martin is an award-winning actor, writer, director, and filmmaker based in NYC. He is best known as the creator and star of Don't Suck, the hit, award-winning web series that has amassed over 8 million views on YouTube, making it one of the platform’s most successful indie series. Season 2 is currently in post-production under his production company, Ten-Oh-Four.

Acting since childhood, Tyler’s career spans Off-Broadway, TV, film, published writing, and podcasting, all rooted in advocacy-driven storytelling. His short film Candice — which he wrote, directed, and starred in — was nominated for Best Short at the Academy Award-Qualifying Austin Film Festival and earned him multiple Best Actor awards. He is set to reprise his acclaimed role in the feature-length adaptation, currently in pre-production, where he will also return as writer and director. He also stars in Sweet Thunder, a short drama currently making its way through the festival circuit.

As a writer, Tyler’s work includes Bonded, which raised nearly $20,000 for MenHealing in a public NYC staged reading. His play What I First Desired won the Soho Playhouse Off-Broadway competition, and his short film Très Chic earned him Best Writing at the 48hr NYC Film Festival. He also created and hosted Have a Blessed Gay, an award-winning podcast that explored faith, queerness, and social justice through bold, thought-provoking conversations with celebrities and field experts. Across all mediums, Tyler’s storytelling blends humor, subversion, and humanity, offering fresh perspectives on identity, relationships, and social justice with depth and poignancy.

To reach Tyler and explore his work, please visit www.tylerisaacmartin.com and follow him on
Instagram: @tylerisaacmartin