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 Sexuality Stories

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From a Secret Wedding to Legal Marriage: A Lesbian Love Story in the Shadow of Prop 8

by KishaLynn Elliot

From a Secret Wedding to Legal Marriage: A Lesbian Love Story in the Shadow of Prop 8

My name is KishaLynn Elliot and I’m from San Diego, California.  One night in 2006, a friend of mine dragged me out for drinks in West Hollywood. We’re sitting at the ...

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Kicked Out of the Military for Being Gay: One Man’s Experience During “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

by James Garcia

Kicked Out of the Military for Being Gay: One Man’s Experience During “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Hi, my name is James Garcia and I am from New York City.  In 1996, I enlisted in the Air Force. During that time, don’t ask, don’t tell was in place. That means the mi...

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Gay Man Grateful After Coming Out to Parents: “You Never Know How Long We’re Going To Be Around.”

by Edison

Gay Man Grateful After Coming Out to Parents: “You Never Know How Long We’re Going To Be Around.”

My name is Edison and I’m from New York City. I grew up in a loving but extremely conservative household. My family, my parents were immigrants, are immigrants from Ecuador, ...

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“We Have An Obligation To Be Visible.” Lesbian Changes 6th Grader’s Life By Hanging Up a Pride Flag.

by Nicole Bashor

“We Have An Obligation To Be Visible.” Lesbian Changes 6th Grader’s Life By Hanging Up a Pride Flag.

Hi, my name is Nicole Bashor and I’m originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  I ended up going to college at the University of Pittsburgh, and it was quite a transition be...

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Sexually Harassed at Work, Fired, and Then Empowered: Two-Spirit Person Finds Voice by Speaking Up.

by Cherokee Lindsay

Sexually Harassed at Work, Fired, and Then Empowered: Two-Spirit Person Finds Voice by Speaking Up.

My name is Cherokee Lindsay, and I’m from the Bronx, New York.  About four years ago, four or five years ago or so, I was at a place in my life where I was happy with my job...

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Junior, a latino gay man stands in front of pink brick wall.

by Junior Suazo

First Love Compels Gay Man to Mend Fences with his Mom. “There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel.”

I’m Junior Suazo and I’m from Miami, Florida.  My family is from Nicaragua. I’m a first generation college graduate and I come from a Catholic background. Growin...

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Dina, a queer peruvian immigrant sits for interview.

by Dina Paolo Rodriguez

Queer Person Thrives After Choosing Theater Over Evangelism. “How Could It Possibly Be a Sin?”

My name is Dina Paolo Rodriguez. I’m from El Caja, Peru.  We immigrated to the US, to Miami, in the late nineties and my mom became a born again Christian, evangelical Chris...

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Tim, a gay man, sits smiling looking off to the side.

by Tim

Top, Bottom or Vers? Gay Man Defies Social Pressure and Comes Out as a Side.

I’m Tim, and I’m from Montclair, New Jersey.  I came out in three separate occasions over a summer. The first one was, “I think I might be gay.” And the se...

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Danielle S Headshot

by Danielle Stanziale

From Hooking Up to Happily Ever After: A Lesbian Love Story That Defied The Odds.

My name is Danielle Stanziale. I’m from Queens, New York. It was the end of summer, eight years ago, and I was sitting outside The Duplex on Christopher and Seventh Avenue. M...

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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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Nick, a smiling Italian-american gay man sits for interview in polo shirt

by Nick

Gay Man Reunites with Estranged Father After Seven Years. “It Takes Time But You Gotta Work at It.”

Hi, my name is Nick from Toms River, New Jersey. I was in my mid 20s living in New York City. I met a guy, I went home with him. We had a really wonderful night. We decided that we...

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Grey, a Black queer person sits for interview on blue and white couch. They are smiling and wearing a red collared shirt with white embroidery in the shape of feathers

by Grey

How a Crush Saved a Queer Person’s Life. “Falling in Love was the Catalyst for Accepting Who I Am.”

Hey, so my name is Grey. I grew up in Florida.  I grew up in a church and in a family that was very conservative Christianity wise. They’re also Caribbean. There’s als...

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