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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.

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From Anderson Cooper to Heartstopper, Gay Man Learns the Value of Living for Himself.

by Kevin Bentley

From Anderson Cooper to Heartstopper, Gay Man Learns the Value of Living for Himself.

My name is Kevin Bentley, and I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. When I was 17, my brother came out as bisexual. He put it out there and was just, “This is it. No room for discussio...

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Closeted Gay Athlete In Small Town Finds Hope in Will & Grace. “That Show Saved My Life.”

by Brandon Hines

Closeted Gay Athlete In Small Town Finds Hope in Will & Grace. “That Show Saved My Life.”

My name is Brandon Hines. I’m from Dublin, Georgia. When I was about, I would say 10 or so years old, I was very masculine, very into sports. I was the typical boy. I had a cousi...

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Queer Woman Honors Friend’s Life By Coming Out And Living Fearlessly.

by Jina

Queer Woman Honors Friend’s Life By Coming Out And Living Fearlessly.

My name is Jina and I’m from Marietta, Georgia. When I was growing up in Marietta, which is this majority white conservative suburb of Atlanta, I was very much an outsider. I als...

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New Country, New Style, New Hair Brings Out the Swagger in Gender Nonconforming Woman.

by Vi Andrews

New Country, New Style, New Hair Brings Out the Swagger in Gender Nonconforming Woman.

My name is Vi Andrews and I’m from Miami, Florida. I’m living at my parents’ house at this time. It was at the midway point of COVID. It’s been about a year and a half, and...

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Closeted Gay College Athlete Learns to Speak Up For Others Following Transformative Pride Experience. “It Makes You A Better Person.”

by Dre'quan Reed

Closeted Gay College Athlete Learns to Speak Up For Others Following Transformative Pride Experience. “It Makes You A Better Person.”

Hi, my name is Dre’Quan Reed. I was born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I grew up in an area where it was pretty much a lot of masculinity going around. I had to presen...

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Gay Man Acknowledges Sexuality at High School Retreat, Then Comes Out To Mom. “I Will Not Allow Darkness To Creep Over My Life.”

by Trevor McCray

Gay Man Acknowledges Sexuality at High School Retreat, Then Comes Out To Mom. “I Will Not Allow Darkness To Creep Over My Life.”

I’m Trevor McCray and I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. In my family, there’s a rule – I don’t know about yours – but it’s an unspoken rule that family business stays wit...

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Non-Binary Person Inspired to Explore Gender Identity and Leave Toxic Ex During COVID Lockdown. “I Had Finally Chosen Myself.”

by Taylor Mckenzi

Non-Binary Person Inspired to Explore Gender Identity and Leave Toxic Ex During COVID Lockdown. “I Had Finally Chosen Myself.”

I’m Taylor McKenzi and I’m from Austin, Texas. When I was younger, I knew that I wasn’t like the other little girls around me. When we would play pretend I would often choose...

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Gay Man Reconciles Faith and Sexuality After Profanity-Laden Defense of Mother at Church.

by Danny Lopez

Gay Man Reconciles Faith and Sexuality After Profanity-Laden Defense of Mother at Church.

Hi, I’m Danny Lopez. I am from Austin, Texas. Thirteen, 14 years ago, I started dating this guy. Everything was going good and well. Unfortunately, he was outed. In a way I was h...

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Oscar-Winning Movie About Drag Queens Gives Teen Courage To “Live as Out Loud as I Possibly Could.”

by Wallace West

Oscar-Winning Movie About Drag Queens Gives Teen Courage To “Live as Out Loud as I Possibly Could.”

My name’s Wallace West and I’m from Houston, Texas. Coming of age in very conservative Texas, that’s still very conservative, I didn’t see much of myself in movies. I was e...

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After Gay Man Comes Out as HIV+, Parents Evolve From Ambivalence to Activism. “I Couldn’t Be More Proud of Them.”

by Bart Loeser

After Gay Man Comes Out as HIV+, Parents Evolve From Ambivalence to Activism. “I Couldn’t Be More Proud of Them.”

My name is Bart Loeser and I’m from Houston, Texas. So it was summer, early summer of 1986. And my best friend who was my roommate previously had just moved to San Francisco a co...

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Buffy and a Music Video Contributes to Trans Man Embracing His Identity. “You Deserve to Choose Yourself.”

by Bristtle

Buffy and a Music Video Contributes to Trans Man Embracing His Identity. “You Deserve to Choose Yourself.”

I’m Bristtle. I’m from Liberty, South Carolina. I remember I was 11 years old the first time I realized that I was queer. I was watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Willow and...

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Gay Man Confronted By Ex-Wife. “I Hear You Have a Rainbow Sticker on Your Car.”

by Frank Zahn

Gay Man Confronted By Ex-Wife. “I Hear You Have a Rainbow Sticker on Your Car.”

My name is Frank Zahn and I’m from Washington DC. The time is 1998. I’m living in California and it’s about 18 months after my marriage of five years to a woman came to a clo...

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