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 Immigrant Stories
Gay Woman Leaves Gendered Uniforms & Homophobic Colleagues Behind for a More Welcoming Workplace.
I’m Leoni Terblanche from Pretoria, South Africa. Ever since I remember when I was a child, my mom put me in dresses, until age six, where I started making my own decisionsI was able to thrive discovering this beautiful, diverse and inclusive culture that we have over here. I met with my beautiful wife that I married. I was able to find jobs that I l...
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 sI didn’t sleep that entire night because I was just thinking, like, What’s about to happen tomorrow morning when I had to face the entire school? The morning I woke up ...
Swipes Right, Finds Love: Queer Undocumented Woman Falls in Love & Finds Herself Along the Way.
My name is Tashi Sanchez-Llaury and I am from Trujillo, Peru. It was after another breakup with another cishetero man. I personally think that it was a big rebound, but I think I t...
“I Didn’t Have a Good Outcome With My Family.” Nonbinary Person Overcomes Challenges To Live Authentically.
My name is Ley and I’m from the Dominican Republic. I was 15, 14 when I told my mother for the first time that I was bisexual, because that’s the language that I have...
From Texas to Taiwan, Gay Man Overcomes Fear By Coming Out Again and Again
Hi, I’m Leon Yuan. I grew up in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. As a teenager growing up in Taiwan, I always knew I was gay. My biggest fear at the time was that if I were to come out to ...
Despite Homophobia and Bullying, Gay Haitian Comes Out and Learns Strength and Patience. “We Have to Have That Patience to Teach Them How to Love Us.”
I’m Dimitry Etienne. I’m from Carrefour Marin in Haiti. Growing up there, being in school, there were words that people would use that I had no concept of because we lived so f...
After Homophobic Assault, Gay Middle Eastern Man Refuses to Hide His Identity. “Yes, I Identify as a Gay Man.”
My name is Jawad Bandar. I’m from the port city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. When I was 15 years old, still living in Jeddah, I happen to be the one of my friends who had the bigge...
After Escaping Certain Death in the Middle East, Gay Man Faces New Challenges In America.
It was 2003. It was a hot summer day. I was coming out of my work where I worked with an American company, crossing the bridge, trying to take a cab to go back home after a long da...
Nothing Can Stop This Gay, Undocumented Immigrant From Serving His Community.
My name is Christian Mendoza. I was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I remember at the age of 5, my dad – he was a police officer in the narcotics and gang unit. Every time he w...
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...
“My Life Was In Danger.” Genderqueer Venezuelan Seeks Asylum In The United States.
My name is Ilo and I’m from Caracas, Venezuela. When I was – it was 10 years ago, or something like that, I was in Venezuela. I used to practice medicine there. At the time, I ...
“She’s Going To Have To Go Back.” Binational Queer Couple Overcomes Terrifying Immigration Process.
My name is Brook Umbrell and I’m from Toledo, Ohio. In 2014, I decided that was going to be my Summer of Yes. A good friend of mine was doing a queer calendar at the time. She...
Unfortunately, this is all the stories we have in the Immigrant category.
