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 Stories
Queer Sikh Man Uses Visibility and Experience in Healthcare to Help and Empower Others.
My name is Sundeep Singh Boparai. My pronouns are he, him, his, and I’m from Queens, New York. I was a senior in undergrad and my mom was actually making lunch for me. And ...
Queer Teen Comes Out After Dad Walks in on Him and His Boyfriend Making Out.
I’m Andrew Gryniewicz and I’m from Seattle, Washington. In 2013, I had a girlfriend and we had been dating for about a year and a half. And I had always felt that may...
Oprah, Rap & Naked Yoga: One Gay Man’s Coming Out Journey to Finding His Community
Hi, I’m Daniel, from Houston, Texas. When I was 11 years old, I was at my aunt’s house and my mom happened to be watching an episode of Oprah. I noticed it was...
Gay Man Reconnects with Family After Overcoming Shame and Learning to Live Authentically
Hey, I’m Chauncey Dandridge. I’m from Harrison, New Jersey. My family was very macho. There was always sports on the television. I’m one of three boys, grew up ...
Gay Man Frees Himself from the Grip of Addiction. “My Life Started to Get Better.”
Hi, my name’s Gary Lane. I’m from Austin, Texas. I don’t remember exactly when, but I think it was either late high school or maybe right after. One day just at...
From Peer Pressure & Unhealthy Habits to Pride & Self Love: How One Gay Man Turned His Life Around.
My name is Dario Beck Torres, and I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So I grew up in a fairly religious environment. I remember one time being pulled aside by this lady. I didn&#...
From HRT to FIFA: Trans Athlete Joins a Women’s Soccer Team – Then Creates Her Own
I’m Bethany Cyrtmus-Davaul, and I’m from Hudson, Wisconsin. When I was 28-years-old, in my condo in Chicago, sitting on my nice wine red couch, I was watching some Yo...
Trans Parenthood: Daughter’s Birth Inspires Woman to Live Authentically.
Hi, I’m Sharlot and I am from San Antonio, Texas, originally. I have a 3-year-old daughter. She was born three months before the start of the pandemic. And so I was still w...
Back On Track: Gay Man Finds Fulfillment By Prioritizing His Dreams Over Partying & Distractions.
My name is Daniel. I’m from Guanajuato, Mexico. And when I was 15 years old, I moved to the United States, specifically Reno, Nevada. Ever since when I was a little kid, I al...
Keeping Austin Weird: How One Queer Woman Learned to Let Her Freak Flag Fly.
I’m Erica Nix. I’m from Arlington, Texas. Arlington, when I was growing up, was a pretty conservative place. It wasn’t really that cool to be different, and I alw...
Put It In Writing: Gay Man Learns Tough Lesson After Losing His Partner – and Everything They Built.
Hello, my name is Alfred Engstrand. I’m from San Antonio, Texas. When I was 25 years old, I was approached by an older gentleman who needed my help to run his restaurant, b...
From Bi Erasure to “Flaming Bisexual”: Bi Asian Mom Learns the Value of Visibility.
Hi, I’m Ivy Le from Dallas, Texas. I thought everybody was bisexual. My family immigrated from Vietnam, so I actually grew up in two really conservative cultures; Vietnamese ...