In theaters this weekend is a film close to home for LGBTQ+ boxing trailblazer Christy Martin because it’s based on her life. For the first time on the big screen, Christy’s story is being told and it’s one that everyone should see. Portrayed by Sydney Sweeney (yeah, that Sydney Sweeney – this filmed before her recent controvery and is not covered in this interview), “Christy” takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster of the highs and lows that Christy experienced in real life after marrying the sport of boxing and fighting demons of all kinds along the way from family, friends, and the very people who should have wanted the best for her. It details her fights on-screen and off as she dealt with an abusive husband as she did what she needed to do to protect her family and bring them a life she had dreamed of.

I recently had the honor of speaking with Christy in person at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL and here’s that Pride365 Conversation. It’s important to highlight Christy’s accomplishments and the struggles she endured as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

I’m here with Christy Martin and I have to tell you, this movie, I knew who you were,  I knew your accomplishments, but I didn’t know your life story. And what, I can only imagine what that was like to experience seeing that on the big screen. What was that like for you?

Well, I always remind everybody that I’m a coal miner’s daughter from a very small town in southern West Virginia. We have about 700 people in our town. So to be in a movie theater with so many people watching my life is a little overwhelming. And then it’s not just anybody portraying me, it’s Sydney Sweeney, who is the “it” girl right now in Hollywood. So it’s really just, it’s more than I can really put into words. Ben Foster does a marvelous job portraying Jim Martin. Um, he really is the star of this movie because Jim Martin, he encompassed his, his persona, his, his movements, everything about him is, is really, um, so the point, I just really don’t watch it too much anymore.

I can understand that because, uh, the emotional toll that that must’ve taken is just, you know, I was shocked when I, you know, we get to a certain point in the movie and you see how things have turned, but then you bounce back and it’s stronger than ever really, uh, you know, what was that like in real life?

Well, and you say that, you know, we get to a point and you see it turn, but we have to remember that Jim Martin told me when I married him that if ever you leave me, I will kill you. Of course I was young and I didn’t take it really seriously at that point. Um, but I knew by the end that that was going to be how it ended. Um, it was, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a lot to sit through it and to watch it over and over. Um, and it’s so realistic and it’s so true. I mean, I, I asked Mira Fox, the writer said, please don’t Hollywoodize my story. And she said to me, Christy, we don’t have to, there’s enough stuff that’s happened to you that we don’t need to add anything. We just need to portray it as it happened.

What was it like, you know, knowing that you were repressing a part of your life for Jim living in a world that probably you didn’t want to, I’m assuming because you know, you eventually do come to terms with everything. So what was that part? I mean, that could not have been easy.

So when I married Jim Martin, I truly married boxing and that’s who I became. Christy Martin, the boxer. So all of my energy, my, my mental, physical, everything went to boxing. And I didn’t do it for Jim. I did it for my family because my family, I didn’t want to lose my family if they, well, and I already knew they were not willing to accept the fact that I was gay. So I thought this is the way that I can keep my family and I can have this boxing career and I can be happy and they will be happy and, and life will be good, but you can only keep down who you are for so long. And then things started ending with the boxing career. And when the boxing career started to wind down, then I needed to be who I am.

The experience with your mother in particular at least in the movie is portrayed, you know, where she just never seemed to really come around to accepting, you know, who you were and who you wanted to love. Your dad is portrayed as sort of a strong, silent type. Is that accurate? Did your dad sort of not agree with your mom all the time or kind of picked up on a little bit of that in the film?

I think my mom’s thoughts and emotions controlled the family. Probably my dad and my aunts, my uncles, my, my brother to a point, but my brother, thank goodness had his own mind and, and stood on his own beliefs and what he felt. He wanted me to be happy. He wanted me to be alive and he was going to support me and love me no matter what. And he thought that my mother should do that as well. It was just a little more difficult for her. My dad is definitely the strong, silent type would say less, but he he’s fine with who I am today and he loves Lisa and we’re doing just fine.

That’s good. That’s really good to know. Is your mom still with us too?

My mom passed in February.

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you have a chance to kind of make amends with her at all?

I tried really hard because she had cancer before, you know, we knew for three or four years and she battled and battled. So I tried in the last couple of years to, to find that common ground and make amends. And, um, I think she left this world with me still being a little unsettled with, with how our relationship had gone for my whole life. You know, it was just turbulent. It was up and down and she was supportive in one, one aspect and then so against another. So it was, it was complicated and it was, is difficult. And my feelings for her and our relationship are very complex.

I can imagine. I would think your entire family should be very proud of your accomplishments. You’ve done things that no one else has done. The movie’s only two hours and, you know, 15 minutes long. How much was left out?

You know, there’s, there’s crazy that was left out, but then the high points are there. There’s enough. I feel like that is going to resonate with the domestic violence people. It’s going to help. Hopefully, I pray that it helps with the sexuality where parents can understand that this is my child and I love my child no matter what, because I would rather than be happy loving someone the same sex as in a relationship where they’re being abused all the time. So hopefully it opens up eyes for parents. It opens up eyes for friends, family, that domestic violence stuff’s going on right under their nose and maybe they’re not thinking about it or accepting it or maybe even seeing it. But it makes you start to think, oh, I heard this. I heard this conversation. It really didn’t seem just right. And maybe they’ll start to ask or to at least hint that the door is open if you need my help.

I read an interview where you said that it’s been difficult to process everything that’s happened in your life, but doing, but doing these motivational speaking engagements and talking to people and helping people with their issues seems to help you. You know, is there any moment where you’ve been speaking to someone and pieces start falling into place for you?

So I feel like every time that I speak, that there’s something that will happen, whether it’s when I’m speaking and I hear my own words or afterwards, somebody will come and talk to me and share their story with me, then it definitely helps give me strength. And it also lets me know that I’m doing the right thing. I made a deal with God I would help people. And when people tell me afterwards that just being in the event or seeing the movie just in Indianapolis, I had a couple people talk to me afterwards that were survivors and the hugs I get from those people, you can’t put, there’s not a money value that you can give to that. It’s important and it helps me.

Yes, for sure. Well, thank you for that work that you’re doing. Cause I know it’s, it’s comes from a place of somebody who’s been there and has made it through. Speaking of that, how did this movie come about? Because I know there was a Netflix special that’s out there and people may be familiar with their story from that. That was out about a year ago, I guess a couple of years. So how did this come about with, especially with Sydney Sweeney? I mean, it’s just, that’s incredible.

It is, it is incredible. Um, and it was quick. People had been talking to me since 1996 about doing the movie. Um, thank goodness they didn’t do the 96, you know, once Sidney Sweeney came on board, actually once the group got together with, uh, black bear with anonymous votive, once that group got together and then Sydney Sweeney was on board, like in two months we were filming.

Wow. Yeah. Uh, when was this filmed? Was it a couple years ago?

Can you believe this? Hollywood’s Hollywood speed. We, we filmed, we were done in November last year. No kidding. Here we are November this year.

What a whirlwind. Were you there on set throughout all the filming?

Most of it, most of the, most of the filming I was there. Um, it was, it was a lot of fun. It was interesting and to see how they work. I mean, their work schedule is crazy. Um, but just to be on the set was really, you know, that itself was a great experience just for any movie. And then I will be like, Oh no, this is your movie. This is your life. So it was, it was awesome.

What do you hope people take from this film? Uh, you know, (8:57) seeing your life, seeing it play out, uh, it starts in a great place and then goes to a very dark (9:03) place and then ends on a great note too. Um, you kind of write all the emotions in this film. (9:08) Uh, what do you hope people take out of the theater?

More than anything I consider myself the ultimate underdog. And I feel like, you know, Hey, if this coal miner’s daughter can make it and it can be anything, so can I. And that’s the main thing I want people to take away. But then we have to talk about the domestic violence, all those things, the domestic violence aspect, the sexuality aspect, drug addiction, which we haven’t even talked about too much. Um, there’s, there’s so many different groups of people that I feel like this movie can give strength. You know, it’s always easier when you see somebody who’s made a path. It’s always easier to follow that path. And then when you feel like there’s not a path out there, that’s when you’re lost.

Do you feel freer now than you did?

I feel like me. Yeah. You know, I feel like me. Is that freer? I guess so.

More true to yourself now?

Yeah. You know, but people remind me you’re supposed to act like a grownup. I’m like, Oh, that kind of sucks. Cause I did that. Like when Jim, Jim was 25 years older than me and I was always like doing old people stuff. You’re only as old as you feel. And I feel like I’m, well, I don’t want to tell you how old I feel. So I guess sometimes I feel like I’m 20 and some times I feel like I’m 120. Never know.

Well, what’s next for you?

I don’t know. I’m going to chill. I’m doing Christie Martin promotions. We’re doing, we have Christie’s champs was, which is my nonprofit for domestic violence awareness. Actually, I’ll be promoting a boxing event here in Orlando Altamont Springs, February 19th, next year. We’ll have boxing. We’ll be our entertainment, of course. And we’ll be raising money for domestic violence awareness. Christie’s champs.

That’s fantastic. Thank you for the opportunity here to speak to you today. Cause you’re a hero to so many people and I’m glad that everyone gets a chance to see your story and a realistic one. You know, it’s not like you said, not Hollywoodized, which brings it way more home or closer to home, you know, for a lot of people. One final question. One of the toughest parts of the film, you grab a set of keys and it’s for a different car. Is that real? Did that actually happen?

100%. And when I got to the, when I got to the car and realized I had the wrong keys, it was like, I had that choice. Was I either going to go back in the house and try to find the right keys or go to the middle of the road? And, and hopefully I could stop somebody and get a, get a ride. And that’s what happened. I stopped Rick Cole, who is my angel, who will be with watching the movie with us tonight.

Oh, awesome. I’m glad you made that choice. Thank you again. And best of luck to you this movie is going to be huge when it opens November 7th.

Thank you. I appreciate it. And, and I hope so. And I hope it changes and helps so many people find strength.

Many thanks to Allied Global Marketing and Black Bear Pictures. CHRISTY is in theaters now.