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
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...
“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...
Lesbian Mom Protects Her Kids From Their Homophobic Grandfather. “You Won’t Disrespect Them.”
I am Chevon Cleveland and I am from Yonkers, New York. When I was 17 years old, my mom passed away. But my -, and I never knew my dad up until that point. In 2015, I was turning 35...
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 Coming Out to Wife and Daughter, Gay Man’s Life Changes for the Better. “We Have a Very Modern Family.”
I’m Andre Khan and I’m from Queens, New York. I was 32, married to a woman and had a five-year-old daughter. I used to travel a lot back then in work and through those travels,...
At His Lowest Point, Gay Man Finds Escape in Creating Music. “I’m Happier Than I’ve Ever Been.”
Hi, my name is Kelvin Bloodsaw. I’m from Martinez, California. I grew up in Philadelphia. I was raised by my mom, single mother. We lived with my grandmother. Ever since I was yo...
High School Bully Instills Confidence In Gay Classmate. “Remind Yourself of the Truth.”
Hi, my name is Remy Wilbanks. I am from Chicago, Illinois. My story kind of starts out with my mom falling down a flight of stairs, aand she had me prematurely at one pound, five o...
Queer Iraqi Woman Breaks Down the Closet Door. “This Is Not a Way to Live.”
I’m Alaa Wasfie. I’m from Baghdad, Iraq. In 2003, I was 13 years old during the American-Iraqi war. My grandmother wanted us, the entire family, to be together in one house so ...
Queer Black Woman Stops Letting Others Define Her. “I Am Queer. I’m African-American. I’m Very Happy in My Own Skin.”
Hi, I’m Michelle from Austin, Texas. I was here in Austin and applying for the Air Force Academy and West Point, the US Military Academy and was submitting my documentation to th...
From Homophobia in the Hallways to Making it in Milan. How A Gay Fashion Designer Planned His Way To Success.
Hi, my name is Kadeem Fyffe.. I’m from Durham, North Carolina. I grew up in a very, very religious family. My mom is a Southern Baptist minister. And I come from a Jamaican, very...
Chicago Drag Queen Suffers Violent Assault & Partial Blindness But Bounces Back “With Love and Positivity.”
Hey, I’m Saya Naomi and I am from Chicago, Illinois. So four years ago, my ex and I were having a night and we ended up drinking a lot. Drinking led to us getting annoyed and ang...
After Series of Incidents, How One Person Learned to Stop “Letting It Go” & Start “Naming My Needs.”
My name is Christian Luu. I’m from Dallas, Texas. And before the pandemic, maybe four or five months, I was working at a pretty large national chain restaurant. Servers tend to b...
