I'm From Driftwood
The stories on I’m From Driftwood send a simple but powerful message to LGBTQIA+ people everywhere: You are not alone. I’m From Driftwood combats isolation and creates empathy to build a more understanding and accepting world. These are our stories, told in our own voices.
Latest Coming Out Stories
Business Owner Embraces Being Out and Proud.
My name’s Aurelio Giordano and I’m from Brooklyn, New York. So back in 2008, at the time I was working as an executive assistant in the marketing department of a large media co...
1961: “I Couldn’t Bring Myself To Write The Word ‘Homosexual.’”
“What Was It Like? Stories by LGBTQ Elders” is a new program by I’m From Driftwood, in partnership with Comcast, the nation’s largest cable provider, and SAGE, the countr...
“It Was Me Living Two Lives… And It Was Me Living Two Lies.”
Dr. Evan Goldstein is the founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgical – a first of its kind health practice specializing in gay men’s sexual health and wellness, offering an integrat...
After Coming Out To Mother: “I Got My Best Friend Back.”
My name is Rennetta Bailey. I’m from Chicago, Illinois. So there was a ballet every morning with my mother. As she would wake up in the morning, knock on my bedroom door, she wou...
Boss To New Employee: “It’s Been Brought To My Attention That You’re A Lesbian.”
My name is Ingrid Galvez-Thorp and I’m originally from New Rochelle, New York. Leading up to the ‘96 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, I found out at my job that there was opportunit...
“A Matter of Life and Death.” Being Black and Gay in the 1960s.
“What Was It Like? Stories by LGBTQ Elders” is a new program by I’m From Driftwood, in partnership with Comcast, the nation’s largest cable provider, and SAGE, the countr...
![“If You Can’t Be Your True Self [At Work], Maybe That’s Not The Right Employer.”](https://imfromdriftwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Michael-Cox-1.jpg)
“If You Can’t Be Your True Self [At Work], Maybe That’s Not The Right Employer.”
I’m Michael Cox, I’m from Harlan, Kentucky. So one time, I was on a flight sitting next to a person who was clearly a businessman, dressed in a suit, salt and pepper hair, much...
Gender Non-Binary Person “Got The Butterflies” From A Simple Work Document.
So my name is Jae Ratio and I’m born in Boulder City, Nevada. As a six, seven-year old, I don’t really know the specific age, I was living the trailer park and it was just me a...
“In That Moment, I Realized That She Got It.” A Mother Learns To Empathize With Gay Son.
I’m Bryan Blaise from Leesburg, Florida. Back when I was 22, I went home for the holidays. At that time I had started dating someone here in Chicago and decided I was going to te...
Learning of Late Mother’s Acceptance “Felt Like God Had Lifted Everything Off My Shoulders.”
My name is Edna Redo and I’m from Chicago. I went to Curie High School here in Chicago. Graduated in ‘86, 1986, rather. One year, my junior year of high school – my mother wa...
“You Forgot Your Knife In My Car.” The Importance of Safe Spaces for LGBTQ Youth.
Hi, my name is Matt Beierschmitt, I’m from Collinswood, New Jersey. When I was 15 years old, I was on my family computer talking on AOL chatrooms and just to meet people and the ...
Hateful Message From Friend Inspires Lesbian To Live More Honestly.
My name’s Melissa Driscol and I’m from Lorain, Ohio. So growing up, I had a lot of activities that I had to be a part of. And with that, my family in particular had a few frien...
