by Brent Roelofs

I’m From Raymond, MN.

In light of the recent tragic suicides as a result of gay teens being bullied, it has brought back a lot of memories of the struggles and pain that I went through when people foun...

by Dean Ostrum

“Dean…your boys want to know if Richard’s your lover.”

Dean Ostrum was married to a woman and had four kids when he met the man he would fall in love with and later marry. Dean explains: There was no secret about [Richard] being a veTRANSCRIPT: My name is Dean Ostrum and I was born in Russel, Kansas. A very small town on the prairie. When I graduated high school I went to the University of Kansas and by that ...

by Bobbi Dykema

I’m From Strasburg, ND.

I’m from Strasburg, North Dakota, hometown of Lawrence Welk. They played polka at my senior prom. A very homogenous, provincial, rural backwater of a place. I got picked on as a...

by Jack O.

I’m From Gorleston, Suffolk, UK.

1994. The beginning of this journey, one of which no one could have determined. One of which seems all so strange to one family. One of which one wished had happened earlier. 1998...

by Kimberly Burnham

I’m From Provo, UT.

Summer vacation at seven years old, the best part of the day is as much ice cream as I want and a can of grandpa’s Fresca, which he always had in the fridge because he was a dia...

by Jeffrey

I’m From Kewanee, IL.

Like most people, coming out to myself, parents and friends was all at once painful, wonderful, and liberating.  I’m lucky to look back on it now and be thankful that I have a ...

by Felisa Hanamaikai

I’m From Clovis, CA.

The first time I wrote for I’m From Driftwood I wrote as an ally… it’s still very true; I still believe that everyone needs to be who they are and not hide it from the worl...

by Gianpaul Graziosi

I’m From Exeter, NH.

By my junior year at boarding school, I was co-head of my Gay Straight Alliance. I felt the pressure and anxiety of having to continue the charade of liking girls, while leading t...

by Jake Loren

I’m From Burlington, VT.

“When did you realize you were a man?” I’m disappointed when he asks me this at the bar because it betrays his unknowing. It seems like every time I open up to someone, I in...