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 Trans Stories

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Gender-Affirming Care Leads Trans Woman From Sex Work & Prison to Motherhood, Marriage, and a Career

by Tabytha Gonzalez

Gender-Affirming Care Leads Trans Woman From Sex Work & Prison to Motherhood, Marriage, and a Career

I’m Tabytha Gonzalez, pronouns she and her, and I’m from Newark, New Jersey.  I first came to New York City. I was with my dance crew, or a dance crew that I was a par...

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“We Can’t Be Patient Forever.” Trans Person Finds Joy & Community After Cutting Ties with Family

by SJ

“We Can’t Be Patient Forever.” Trans Person Finds Joy & Community After Cutting Ties with Family

I’m SJ. I’m from Dallas, Texas.  I grew up in a house where it wasn’t really normal for us to talk about our feelings. That was really difficult for me. As a chi...

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Shirtless Trans Man on a Beach Changes Stranger’s Life. “It is Super Important to See Our Marks.”

by Terrence Francois

Shirtless Trans Man on a Beach Changes Stranger’s Life. “It is Super Important to See Our Marks.”

My name is Terrence Francois. I’m from Brooklyn, New York, also known as Indigenous Land of the Lenape people. So it’s 2021. We’re a year into the pandemic. The y...

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Trans CPS Investigator Resigns Rather Than Support Texas’ Anti-Trans Policies.

by Morgan Davis

Trans CPS Investigator Resigns Rather Than Support Texas’ Anti-Trans Policies.

My name is Morgan Davis. I’m from Austin, Texas.  A year ago, I was an investigator with Child Protective Services. At the time, Governor Abbott, the governor of Texas, aske...

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Trans Man Breaks Free From Evangelical Cult and Finds Supportive Community.

by Andy

Trans Man Breaks Free From Evangelical Cult and Finds Supportive Community.

I’m Andy, and I’m from Tallahassee, Florida.  So I was raised in an evangelical cult. I didn’t realize that at the time. I thought this was a normal church and n...

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A Lesson, Then a Plan: How a Sixth Grade Student Changed a Trans Teacher’s Life

by Kai Morley

A Lesson, Then a Plan: How a Sixth Grade Student Changed a Trans Teacher’s Life

I identified as a girl for most of my life, but in 5th grade I started getting a lot of anxiety around school. And it wasn’t until I realized that clothing and the way people...

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Three Weddings and a Reconciliation: How One Trans Man’s Patience Helped Heal Family Wounds

by Connor Maddocks

Three Weddings and a Reconciliation: How One Trans Man’s Patience Helped Heal Family Wounds

Hi, my name is Connor Maddocks. I’m from San Diego, California.  When I was say about 45 years old, this amazing thing called the Internet came out and I met some folks onli...

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“Now It’s Time to Tell My Granddaughter.” Trans Woman Finds Love & Support After Coming Out to Family.

by Christynne Lili Wrene Wood

“Now It’s Time to Tell My Granddaughter.” Trans Woman Finds Love & Support After Coming Out to Family.

I’m Christynne Lili Wrene Wood, 66 years old. I’m originally from Springfield, Ohio.  I’m one of those who knew from a very early age, four years of age actually...

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From NSYNC Cover Band Drag King to Coming Out at Work, Trans Man Shares Journey to Self-Acceptance

by Jay Beaulieu

From NSYNC Cover Band Drag King to Coming Out at Work, Trans Man Shares Journey to Self-Acceptance

My name is Jay Beaulieu, I’m from South Pasadena, California.  When I was six years old, I remember learning how to play basketball. I was on the court learning to shoot fre...

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Black, Lenape (Two-Spirit) Trans man, Darius, sits for interview. They are smiling and wearing a Phillies hat. They have a dark shirt on and wearing glasses.

by Darius McLean

How One Trans Couple Found Love During the Pandemic. “Don’t Be Afraid to Love and to Let It In.”

I am Darius McLean and I’m from Newfield, New Jersey.  About seven years ago I was working at the Mazzoni Center and the CHOP Gender Clinic. When I was working at Mazzoni Ce...

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Samantha's headshot: image of white transgender woman smiling at camera

by Samantha

“You Will Find Your Way.” Transgender Woman’s Multi-Stop–And Ongoing–Journey to Realizing Her Identity.

My name is Samantha. I’m from Houston, Texas.  When I was in college, just kind of finishing my degree at University of Texas in Austin, I started dating this guy whom I had...

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Headshot of Shellby, a Black trans nonbinary person. They are sitting in for their interview in a black blazer, wearing glasses and their braided hair is in a high bun.

by Shellby Forbes

Trans Nonbinary Person Thrives After Being Welcomed Back to Work with New Identity, Name, & Pronouns.

I did a lot of self-reflecting and I was able to self-identify as well as to allow myself, my inner Shellby, to come alive.I am Shellby Forbes. I am from Brooklyn, New York. So in early 2000s, I started in the finance industry working in retail banking. And during that timeframe, I started off as a tel...

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