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 Elders Stories

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After Being Called the F-Word at a Straight Wedding, Gay Man Immerses Himself in the Queer Community.

by Marc Barrett

After Being Called the F-Word at a Straight Wedding, Gay Man Immerses Himself in the Queer Community.

My name is Marc Barrett, and I’m from Belchertown, Massachusetts.  In the late 70s, when I was basically on the road with a band as a musician and entertainer, I had to watc...

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Lesbian Creates a Committee of Friends to Help Her Find Love. “I Couldn’t Trust My Own Decisions.”

by Meredith Morningstar

Lesbian Creates a Committee of Friends to Help Her Find Love. “I Couldn’t Trust My Own Decisions.”

I’m Meredith Morningstar. I’m originally from Dallas, Texas.  My sister, in her eloquent way, diagnosed me with a broken picker. That means that I couldn’t pick ...

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From Dolls to Disney, Gay Artist Advises “Don’t Stop Your Children From Exploring Their Imagination.”

by Jozef Szekeres

From Dolls to Disney, Gay Artist Advises “Don’t Stop Your Children From Exploring Their Imagination.”

Hi there. My name is Jozef Szekeres and I’m from Sydney, Australia. As a boy, I knew that I was a little bit different from the other boys and girls. Well, actually, probably I w...

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The Legend of Hippie Hollow: Sheriff’s Offhand Remark Helps Cement Austin as a Naked Gay Destination.

by Dennis Paddie

The Legend of Hippie Hollow: Sheriff’s Offhand Remark Helps Cement Austin as a Naked Gay Destination.

Hello. My name is Dennis Paddie. I was born in a little hamlet in Arkansas called Sardis. I came to Austin in 1965 to train for the Peace Corps. And in the course of living here ov...

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After Gay Man Comes Out as HIV+, Parents Evolve From Ambivalence to Activism. “I Couldn’t Be More Proud of Them.”

by Bart Loeser

After Gay Man Comes Out as HIV+, Parents Evolve From Ambivalence to Activism. “I Couldn’t Be More Proud of Them.”

My name is Bart Loeser and I’m from Houston, Texas. So it was summer, early summer of 1986. And my best friend who was my roommate previously had just moved to San Francisco a co...

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Whoopi, The Prom Musical, & A Day With a Trans Trailblazer: How One Lifelong Activist Rediscovered the Meaning of Pride.

by Cathy Renna

Whoopi, The Prom Musical, & A Day With a Trans Trailblazer: How One Lifelong Activist Rediscovered the Meaning of Pride.

My name is Cathy Renna and I am from Queens, New York. I had the incredible privilege and exhausting responsibility of working with New York City Pride when we were the host city f...

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“He Lives with a Man. He’s Gay. You Get It?” Gay Man Describes Mother’s Journey to Acceptance.

by Jack Drescher

“He Lives with a Man. He’s Gay. You Get It?” Gay Man Describes Mother’s Journey to Acceptance.

I’m Jack Drescher. I’m from Brooklyn, New York. I originally came out to myself at the age of 21 in 1972. And as part of my coming out process, I gradually started telling peop...

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With the Flick of a Wrist, Trans Woman Turns a Corner in Her Transition and Decides to Come Out at Work.

by Jami Shofner

With the Flick of a Wrist, Trans Woman Turns a Corner in Her Transition and Decides to Come Out at Work.

My name is Jami Shofner and I’m from Houston. Twenty years ago, which was back in the mid-nineties somewhere, I was doing stand-up comedy as a woman, and I was in a drag show in ...

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God Compels Gay Christian to Accept Himself. “You’re Trying to Be Something You’re Not.”

by Rob Mundras

God Compels Gay Christian to Accept Himself. “You’re Trying to Be Something You’re Not.”

I’m Rob Mundras and I am from East Windsor, New Jersey. When I was in my early twenties, I was an employee at a fast food restaurant, which was called Gino’s. And me and this o...

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Trans Woman Comes Out To Colleagues, Who Welcome Her With Open Arms.

by Jessica Soukup

Trans Woman Comes Out To Colleagues, Who Welcome Her With Open Arms.

Hi, my name is Jessica Soukup. I’m from Austin, Texas. I currently work at Texas State University. I’ve been here now for 11 years. About five years ago, I came to a revelation...

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Black Gay Man Reflects On A Life Defined By Love, Authenticity, Activism And Connection. “That’s Just Part Of Who I Am.”

by Harold Cottman

Black Gay Man Reflects On A Life Defined By Love, Authenticity, Activism And Connection. “That’s Just Part Of Who I Am.”

1980s: Black Gay Man On Coming Out In The South: “While I Did Come Out, I Didn’t Really Feel Free.” So, you know, for me, the last thing that I wanted to be was a gay man be...

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Lesbian Activist Recounts Her Decades-Long Fight For Equality In Philadelphia And Beyond.

by Leona Thomas

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. ...

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