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 Gay Men Stories
A Father’s Journey: From Disgust to Pride
My name is Liam Riley. I’m from Los Angeles, California. My parents had me at a really, really young age; they were 16 when they had me. So they had nothing of their own. They we...
Overcoming Sexual Abuse: “Music Is Responsible For Saving My Life.”
I’m Joey Suarez and I’m from San Antonio, Texas. In Miami, Florida, when I was 8 years old, I was in 1st grade. And I was in Ms. Baker’s class. And we just had the DARE progr...
Challenging “The Clones” of Fire Island and Celebrating The Freaks at The Pyramid Club.
I’m Victor Mendolia and I’m from Selden, New York, which is on Long Island. When I was 16, I started going out to Fire Island, to Cherry Grove. I had recently left this born-ag...
Conversion Therapy Doesn’t Work. “I Actually Felt Closer To God When I Accepted Myself.”
I’m Braden Bradley and I’m from Hallsville, Texas, which is a small town in northeast Texas, close to Louisiana. There’s one stop light and a Dairy Queen and it’s just cute...
“I Cannot Have Anything To Do With a Gay Son. Please Don’t Contact Me Anymore.”
Hi, my name is Lester Mayers and I’m from Brooklyn, New York. When I was 3 years old I lost my mom to complications of AIDS. And my father left me and I went to go live with my a...
“To Close Off Is Not In Our Blood.” Parents Flee Iran, Accept Gay Son.
My name is Eric Namaky and I’m from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. My parents are originally from Tehran, Iran, where they were political activists in the late 70s. In 1979, the Shah shut ...
“I’m Black, Jewish, But Guess What? I’m Also Gay.”
I’m Jason Daniel Fair, I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. My mom’s a white Jewish woman and my father is African American and his family is Christian. And we grew up at a time whe...
“Sexual Abuse is Something We Go Through and Not Something That We Are.”
My name is Stephen Land and I’m originally from Phoenix, Arizona. I grew up in a very conservative Christian family. We went to church every Sunday. We went to church every Wedne...
“Ian McKellen Would Be Proud” Of Teacher Coming Out To Students On The First Day Of Class.
My name is Adam Sandel and I’m originally from Hopkins, Minnesota. When I moved to San Francisco in 2001 when I was officially coming out as a gay man, I didn’t know anyone but...
Dad Comes Out To Kids With Hilarious–And Inspiring–Results.
My name is Brian Hartigan, I’m from Staten Island, New York. I came out late in my life, about 30 years old. And reason being is I had gotten married and I had children. I had co...
Gay Twins Come Out To Each Other, Then To Mom.
My name is Ron Malott and I’m from Kyle, Texas. So being from a big family and there being so many of us, I guess because my twin brother and I were sort of special and in the mi...
After Struggles With Coming Out and Drug Addiction, Gay Frat Brothers Fall In Love And Get Married
My name is Troy Hallisey, I’m from Westerly, Rhode Island. I went to college at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. My sophomore year somebody that lived on my floor, that I...
