Mark briefly attended Anne Arundel Community College majoring in Business but his part time job soon became full time and ultimately he didn't finish college.
Like many people back in the 70's, Mark got married and they had a daughter, Samantha.
“I was always attracted to men,” he said. “But back then, it was looked down upon.”
It wasn't until he was about thirty that Mark came out.
“My ex and I get along great. She has since remarried and Samantha has made me the happiest father and grandfather in the world”, he added. A proud grandfather he is. On Mark's Facebook page, he proudly talks about and shows us all updated photos of his grandchildren.
Four years ago, Mark retired from his job with the Maryland Transit Authority Police where he was an officer.
Though you would think that someone who has recently retired would take it easy, Mark is still very much on the move. He was a bartender at The Phoenix (since closed); tends bar at The Quest, writes a column for Gay Life and keeps busy with his grandchildren Bubba (21 months old) and the newest arrival to the Hunter clan, Kaitlyn (5 months old).
“My father is a man of many characteristics,” stated Samantha Hunter Dickens. “He is not only a great father but my best friend as well. Also, he is a excellent grandfather; my kids express that all the time. Along with those, he is a great person all around. He would drop everything for you if you need help and he has a huge heart. I could keep going on how great of an individual [he is] but most of us already know. And to those who don't, you need to!”
You can also find Mark appearing in clubs around town as Marketta Buffet. His debut as a female impersonator came about while working at The Phoenix.
“We had a 'turn-about' show (where men dress as women and vice-verse). It was a lot of fun and it is not like I am making a career out it – I simply do it as fun entertainment.”
His career as a journalist came about by accident.
Then editor and good friend, Andy Chmielowski-Liu asked him to write an article on musician Tom Goss.
“I'm not a writer,” he said. “It happened all of a sudden and after I wrote that article, I started writing the 'about town' piece.”
He has been writing his article for Gay Life for a little over one and a half years.
“I've known Mark for ten years now,” remarked Robert Isaacs. “He is very loyal to his friends and would drop everything if you needed help with anything.”
Currently single, Mark's ideal partner should be honest, loyal, have a sense of humor but most importantly, “they should accept me – for me.”
