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
Lesbian Activist Recounts Her Decades-Long Fight For Equality In Philadelphia And Beyond.
1980s: Being Openly Gay In College “Wasn’t Without Some Level Of Risk Every Day.” When I was growing up in high school, I had no idea that I was LGBTQ or potentially LGBTQ. ...
Black & Gay In New Orleans From The 60s To Today: “You Get Up, You Dust Yourself Off, And You Fight On.”
First Shunned By Neighbors, Then The Bars: Being Black In New Orleans In The 1960s and 1970s. Well, I was born to Sadie and Charlie Hickerson. We lived in an area of New Orleans c...
Trans Person Finds Community And Gender Euphoria In Philadelphia. “It’s Not Going To Be An Easy Road, But It’s Worth It.”
My name’s Sunny Marks. I am from Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. In 2016, I came out as a lesbian, as a Butch lesbian or stud, to my family and friends. It was definitely a difficult ...
Tensions Ease After Gay Man Comes Out To Mom. “It Just Changed Things For The Better.”
My name is Aaron. I’m from Detroit, Michigan. Growing up, I always felt a little bit different and I was also more of an introvert. So I didn’t have a lot of friends – I was ...
Queer Black Man To Grandmother: “He’s My Fiance And If You Don’t Get That, You Don’t Have To Come To The Wedding.”
My name is Terry. I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up, I was really close to my grandmother. I lived with her for times. My mother and I lived with her for months or maybe a...
Woman Stands Up Against Biphobia In The LGBTQ community: “I Have To Be Who I Am.”
My name is Evonna McDonald and I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. So it was the summer going into high school right after middle school where I decided to explore my sexuality. A real...
Gay Man’s Life Changes After Adoption Of Son. “He’s The Most Important Thing In My Life Right Now.”
Hi. My name’s Tariem Burroughs and I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My partner and I, we always knew we wanted to have kids, even when we first met. Luckily a person that I ...
After Rejection From Family, Gender Non-Binary Person Learns To Live For Themselves. “I Am Ecstatic That I Am Me.”
My name is Parker Haines and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. When I was 22, I was sitting in a Friday’s restaurant with my mother. And I had just recently moved to Minneapolis, Min...
Gay Man Confronts Mental Illness, Addiction And His HIV Diagnosis With The Help Of Others. “I Found My Place In The Gay Community.”
So my name is Coleman Goode. I’m from Hallettsville, Texas. When I was 25 years old, I checked myself into a mental hospital because I tried to commit suicide. I, also, at that t...
Kicked Out By His Mom, Queer High School Student Uses Newfound “Alone Time” To Explore His Sexuality.
My name is Darren Mallett. I am from East Flatbush, Brooklyn. My mother and I moved from Brooklyn to Tampa, Florida to escape New York. We lived in a one bedroom apartment, so I ca...
Gay Jamaican Man Escapes Violence And Seeks Asylum In The United States.
Hi, my name is Adrian. I am from St. Ann, Jamaica. I spent most of my life growing up with my mom in Jamaica. It was pretty difficult for me because I found out at an early age tha...
Gay Man Reflects On Foster-To-Adopt Journey: “They Are Our Kids And They Were Purposely Chosen.”
I’m Gregory Yorgey-Girdy. I’m from Victoria, Texas. I moved to Philadelphia to attend law school. Once I got here, I met my husband Paul. When I met Paul, one of the things tha...
