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
IFD Live: Gay Boss Leaves Impression Of A Lifetime.
It’s my first day at my first job and I am scared shitless. I am sitting in the reception area at J. Michael Bloom which was this huge popular talent agency at the time and I was...
Blind Gay Man Discovers He’s Not Alone.
I’m George Ashiotis and I grew up in Astoria Queens. Around the age of five, I was playing ball in the park with my father and my sister. I remember there was a blue ball that we...
“I’m A Freak And I Like Being A Freak.” Keith Levy On The Creation, Ups, And Downs of His Drag Persona Sherry Vine.
y name is Keith Levy, and I’m originally from Columbia, Maryland. I also am known as Sherry Vine, who’s a character I perform as. My entire life and vision was on this path of ...
IFD Archives: “Heterosexual, Transgender, Lesbian” Provides Hope to Young People.
My name is Amanda and I’m from Cazenovia, New York, small little town outside Syracuse, New York. When I first came to SAGE, which is an organization for elder LGBT, when I was a...
The Path of Acceptance vs. The Path of Rejection.
My name is Eric Thomas and I’m from the Bronx NY. I had a high school friend who was one of my best friends, his name was Felix. We came out to each other in high school so we we...
“I’ll Be Damned If I’m Going To Be Buried A Girl.” Gender Transition Gives HIV+ Trans Man Reason To Live
My name is Teo Drake, I actually grew up in Connecticut, near New Haven. The story basically is this intersection or this way of looking at my struggle around gender identity and t...
“Love Conquers” As Woman Marries Trans Man
Lillian always imagined herself marrying “a dark bald black man.” After years of being single and realizing she’s happy being by herself, she met Michael on a personals site....
Richard Socarides Recalls Coming Out To His Dad, One of the Founders of Conversion Therapy
While everyone’s coming out story is different, Richard Socarides’ might be one of the most unique. Richard, who served as President Clinton’s senior adviser on gay rights, e...
AIDS Activist and Radio DJ Explain How Their Relationship Works
Edward Strickler would rather talk about his AIDS activism. Jim would rather talk about his favorite African guitarist, Diblo Dibala. They met in 1981 and have been together since....
Gay Man Recounts His NYC Life in the 1960s
Gilbert Parker has had a full life. The retired literary and talent agent from William Morris Agency shares stories of his NYC life in the 1960s, which includes a comedic near-hook...
Store Owner Finds Success After Being Open and Honest.
Philip Rafshoon wanted to open a gay bookstore. He went through all the normal challenges of starting a business but the most difficult was one he certainly wasn’t expecting. Whe...
“‘I Could Leave You’ is the Issue, Not Who I Will Leave You For.” A Bisexual’s Dilemma.
Lisa Morris, who identifies as bisexual, married a man when she was 29. We went to City Hall and got married. On a Tuesday morning at 10. I was in cutoffs and a tshirt, I think he...
