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 Voices Stories
“To Close Off Is Not In Our Blood.” Parents Flee Iran, Accept Gay Son.
My name is Eric Namaky and I’m from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. My parents are originally from Tehran, Iran, where they were political activists in the late 70s. In 1979, the Shah shut ...
Transgender High School Student Encounters Cyberbullying; Confronts Bully In Library.
Special thanks to the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley for being our partner for this story. My name is Olivia Page. I’m from Hilton, New York. I did the very unique thing of...
Grandma Finds Love Letter To Miss Universe, Sends Lesbian Granddaughter to Mental Hospital.
Special thanks to the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley for being our partner for this story. My name is Wanda Martinez-Johncox, born and raised in Puerto Rico. When I was littl...
“I’m Black, Jewish, But Guess What? I’m Also Gay.”
I’m Jason Daniel Fair, I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. My mom’s a white Jewish woman and my father is African American and his family is Christian. And we grew up at a time whe...
“Ian McKellen Would Be Proud” Of Teacher Coming Out To Students On The First Day Of Class.
My name is Adam Sandel and I’m originally from Hopkins, Minnesota. When I moved to San Francisco in 2001 when I was officially coming out as a gay man, I didn’t know anyone but...
Dad Comes Out To Kids With Hilarious–And Inspiring–Results.
My name is Brian Hartigan, I’m from Staten Island, New York. I came out late in my life, about 30 years old. And reason being is I had gotten married and I had children. I had co...
Candidate for Texas State Representative: “I’m the LGBTQ Son of an Undocumented Immigrant.”
My name is Huey Rey Fischer. I’m from Rockport, Texas. I grew up on the Texas coast and moved to Austin to study Latin American Studies and Government. Now I’m running for Stat...
Two Stories Capture Twenty Two Years of LGBTQ Progress.
I’m Lynn Currie. I’m from Austin, Texas. Growing up my dad was in the military, so we kind of moved all around. And ended up finishing up high school in a little town called Br...
Arrested For Being Gay At 14 Years Old. “It Was Police Entrapment.”
My name is Harold Kooden, and I was born in Chicago. We moved to California, North Hollywood, California. At about eleven, I discovered quite accidentally in one of the johns in th...
Romanian Orphan Uninvited To Christmas By Adoptive Parents After Coming Out As Gay.
I’m Florin and I’m from Bucharest, Romania. I was born in a Romanian hospital, my mother gave birth to me, falsified her identification, and fled the hospital. She left me ther...
Senior Class President Fights To Have Gay Student’s Letter Printed In Paper
I’m Fataah Dihaan, I’m from Buffalo, New York. I went to an all-boys Jesuit private high school, President of the class, I was fairly popular. My Senior year I was editor of ou...
“These White Gay Guys Are Coming To Take All Our Jobs.” Workplace Discrimination In The Mayor’s Office.
My name is James Felton Keith. I’m from Detroit Michigan. I moved back home in 2014 to work for the newly elected mayor of Detroit. A few days before I was supposed to start work...
