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 Black Stories
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
After Homophobic Encounter in Jamaica, Lesbian Moves To US and Becomes LGBTQIA+ Affirming Counselor.
My name is Kimberly. I’m from Ocho Rios, Jamaica. When I was 10, I started at an all girls boarding school there. I remember getting there and I was pretty overwhelmed. I s...
Gay Sex Worker Finds Confidence In Himself & His Work. “What Is There To Be Ashamed Of?”
My name is Tomik Dash. I am from Brooklyn, New York. Nine years ago, I was living in London, England. I went there on the plan to be there for two weeks. All these things started h...
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...
“I Felt This Sense of Coming Home.” The Importance of Lesbian Bars Like Cubbyhole and Henrietta Hudson.
I’m Kinsey and I’m from Detroit, Michigan. Almost three years ago, I moved to New York from Detroit. I moved here for many reasons, one of them being, that I was looking for mo...
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...
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...
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...
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...
