Martha Havlic was born in 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, to Martha Sittler Havlic and Frank Charles Havlic. Both her parents were Czech, her mother immigrated to the United States before she met Martha’s father. Havlic’s mother passed away when she was just four. Havlic would spend most of her childhood in Chicago, participating in Girl Scouts, school gymnastics, and playing both the accordion and trumpet in the school band. She then moved to Iowa City and attended the University of Iowa, studying Physical Education until 1962.

An automobile accident in January 1962 caused a spinal cord injury. Havlic was paralyzed from the waist down. It was after this accident that Havlic also came out to her friends as a lesbian. Embracing her identity as a lesbian and disabled person, Havlic became increasingly involved in the lesbian-feminist community in Iowa City. She became a strong advocate for LGBTQ and disabilities rights. She was especially vocal on the establishment of safe and accessible spaces for members of queer and disabled communities.

In 1982, Havlic moved cross-country to California with her trailer and dog. There, she enjoyed writing poetry, playing traditional Czech music, and spending time outdoors. She advocated for the creation of more available outdoor spaces for folks with disabilities. In the late 1980s and 1990s, she became a mailer for the Californian newsletter, The “L” Word, which offers space for lesbian writers and lesbian-owned businesses to share their stories and events with local lesbian communities. In the May 2013 issue of The “L” Word, Martha Havlic is described as a “dog lover, poker player, wheelchair explorer, L-word mailer, and a good friend to many.”

Later in life, Havlic relied on the support of close friendships and lesbian communities. In 2007, she became increasingly ill and took residence in a care facility. She died in 2013 in California.