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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“You’re Losing Yourself In This Bullshit.” Mom’s Tough Love Convo Snaps Gay Son Out Of Superficial Life.

by Liam King

“You’re Losing Yourself In This Bullshit.” Mom’s Tough Love Convo Snaps Gay Son Out Of Superficial Life.

Hi, my name is Liam King. I’m from Bar Harbor, Maine. It all kind of started with my mother’s reinforcement of me as a child and before I understood the social constructs of wh...

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After Hitting Rock Bottom, Trans Person Finds Inspiration in Helping Others. “Not Every Queer Kid Out There Has the Support of Their Families.”

by River Francis

After Hitting Rock Bottom, Trans Person Finds Inspiration in Helping Others. “Not Every Queer Kid Out There Has the Support of Their Families.”

I’m River Francis. I’m from Bar Harbor, Maine. When I was six years old, I saw an episode of Night Court, which featured a trans person. And for the first time I realized that ...

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Jacob Cheek, deaf gay man smiles in blue shirt while outside telling his story
“I Am Deaf. I Am Gay. And I Do Belong!” Deaf Gay Student Steps Out Of Comfort Zone and Finds His Community.

Hello, everyone! My name is Jacob Cheek and I’m from Belton, Texas. When I was an undergrad student at TAMU, I felt isolated from everyone and everything, as both a deaf and gay ...

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High School Bully Instills Confidence In Gay Classmate. “Remind Yourself of the Truth.”

by Remy Wilbanks

High School Bully Instills Confidence In Gay Classmate. “Remind Yourself of the Truth.”

Hi, my name is Remy Wilbanks. I am from Chicago, Illinois. My story kind of starts out with my mom falling down a flight of stairs, aand she had me prematurely at one pound, five o...

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Queer Iraqi Woman Breaks Down the Closet Door. “This Is Not a Way to Live.”

by Alaa Wasfie

Queer Iraqi Woman Breaks Down the Closet Door. “This Is Not a Way to Live.”

I’m Alaa Wasfie. I’m from Baghdad, Iraq. In 2003, I was 13 years old during the American-Iraqi war. My grandmother wanted us, the entire family, to be together in one house so ...

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Trans Man’s Father Goes From Apprehensive to Ally: “I Know That My Dad Is In My Corner.”

by Grey Pierce

Trans Man’s Father Goes From Apprehensive to Ally: “I Know That My Dad Is In My Corner.”

Hi, I’m Grey Pierce. I’m from Rehrersburg, Pennsylvania. So I was in my last quarter of my freshman year at Oberlin College and I was taking my exams. Since I had been living o...

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After Therapist Outs Student To Parents & Turns School Against Her, Trans Teen Finds a Way to Thrive.

by Arielle Rebekah

After Therapist Outs Student To Parents & Turns School Against Her, Trans Teen Finds a Way to Thrive.

I’m Arielle Rebekah. I am from Harrington Park, New Jersey. I struggled with depression my entire life. And when I was 17 years old, I became so depressed that my parents decided...

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Queer Black Woman Stops Letting Others Define Her. “I Am Queer. I’m African-American. I’m Very Happy in My Own Skin.”

by Michelle

Queer Black Woman Stops Letting Others Define Her. “I Am Queer. I’m African-American. I’m Very Happy in My Own Skin.”

Hi, I’m Michelle from Austin, Texas. I was here in Austin and applying for the Air Force Academy and West Point, the US Military Academy and was submitting my documentation to th...

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From Homophobia in the Hallways to Making it in Milan. How A Gay Fashion Designer Planned His Way To Success.

by Kadeem Fyffe

From Homophobia in the Hallways to Making it in Milan. How A Gay Fashion Designer Planned His Way To Success.

Hi, my name is Kadeem Fyffe.. I’m from Durham, North Carolina. I grew up in a very, very religious family. My mom is a Southern Baptist minister. And I come from a Jamaican, very...

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Chicago Drag Queen Suffers Violent Assault & Partial Blindness But Bounces Back “With Love and Positivity.”

by Saya Naomi

Chicago Drag Queen Suffers Violent Assault & Partial Blindness But Bounces Back “With Love and Positivity.”

Hey, I’m Saya Naomi and I am from Chicago, Illinois. So four years ago, my ex and I were having a night and we ended up drinking a lot. Drinking led to us getting annoyed and ang...

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After a Nearly Fatal Bout with Depression, Gay Man Learns to “Smile for Yourself” And Live Authentically.

by David

After a Nearly Fatal Bout with Depression, Gay Man Learns to “Smile for Yourself” And Live Authentically.

I’m David. I’m from Toronto, Ontario in Canada. Back when I was in high school, I was watching this YouTube video of this YouTuber. He was gay at the time. When I saw his video...

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Gay Man Learns to Accept Himself After Reaching Low Point. “No Matter What Happens Now, I’m Comfortable With Who I Am.”

by John

Gay Man Learns to Accept Himself After Reaching Low Point. “No Matter What Happens Now, I’m Comfortable With Who I Am.”

My name is John. I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the first times I encountered anything to do with LGBT+ issues was when I was 10. I was watching the news with my mother, a...

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