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
Lesbian Creates a Committee of Friends to Help Her Find Love. “I Couldn’t Trust My Own Decisions.”
I’m Meredith Morningstar. I’m originally from Dallas, Texas. My sister, in her eloquent way, diagnosed me with a broken picker. That means that I couldn’t pick ...
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 ...
Trans Non-Binary Person Discovers Himself During the Pandemic. “I Feel Super Great to Have Dared.”
Mi nombre es Río y soy de Sonora, México. En el 2015 estaba en un proyecto que se llamaba “Voces de mujeres, historias que transforman”, donde éramos un grupo de compañeras...
From Dance Class to Bible Study to Basic Training, Queer Woman Finally Finds Her Identity.
My name is Staci Molinar, and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I grew up in an upper-middle class suburb that was very diverse, and very inclusive, and welcoming for all individuals. ...
Gay Sex Worker Finds Confidence In Himself & His Work. “What Is There To Be Ashamed Of?”
My name is Tomik Dash. I am from Brooklyn, New York. Nine years ago, I was living in London, England. I went there on the plan to be there for two weeks. All these things started h...
Fun Home Changes Course of Lesbian’s Life. “Representation Really Can Make or Break Someone’s Path.”
Hi, my name is Emily. I’m from Queens, New York. So in 2015, I was in a class called the physics of technical theater. And in that class, one of the things we had to do was creat...
From Anderson Cooper to Heartstopper, Gay Man Learns the Value of Living for Himself.
My name is Kevin Bentley, and I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. When I was 17, my brother came out as bisexual. He put it out there and was just, “This is it. No room for discussio...
“I Felt This Sense of Coming Home.” The Importance of Lesbian Bars Like Cubbyhole and Henrietta Hudson.
I’m Kinsey and I’m from Detroit, Michigan. Almost three years ago, I moved to New York from Detroit. I moved here for many reasons, one of them being, that I was looking for mo...
Closeted Gay Athlete In Small Town Finds Hope in Will & Grace. “That Show Saved My Life.”
My name is Brandon Hines. I’m from Dublin, Georgia. When I was about, I would say 10 or so years old, I was very masculine, very into sports. I was the typical boy. I had a cousi...
From Dolls to Disney, Gay Artist Advises “Don’t Stop Your Children From Exploring Their Imagination.”
Hi there. My name is Jozef Szekeres and I’m from Sydney, Australia. As a boy, I knew that I was a little bit different from the other boys and girls. Well, actually, probably I w...
Queer Woman Honors Friend’s Life By Coming Out And Living Fearlessly.
My name is Jina and I’m from Marietta, Georgia. When I was growing up in Marietta, which is this majority white conservative suburb of Atlanta, I was very much an outsider. I als...
The Legend of Hippie Hollow: Sheriff’s Offhand Remark Helps Cement Austin as a Naked Gay Destination.
Hello. My name is Dennis Paddie. I was born in a little hamlet in Arkansas called Sardis. I came to Austin in 1965 to train for the Peace Corps. And in the course of living here ov...