by Peter Pinto

So my name is Peter Pinto. I’m from Milford, Pennsylvania.  I grew up in a very low income household. My parents were newlyweds, didn’t have a lot of money. We were oWe get to 2005, I’ve graduated. I have gone from being a performer to being a writer, and now I’m just a working fool in Manhattan doing theater when I can, how I want...

by João Kiser

I came out when I was 16 and then I joined the military at 21, which was something I did not want to do because of the kind of macho culture that I grew up seeing. And I didn’t I remember the last day, the day before he left because they deployed – you go back really early in the morning. The hardest thing was getting up to go to work and he was li...

by Todd Gloria

Hi, my name is Todd Gloria, and I was born and raised in San Diego. I’m a third-generation San Diegan and I now serve as the mayor of my hometown.  I was probably about fouSo I would clean my room because I was never going to have my parents go in my room and say, “Go clean your room.” I wasn’t going to have them interact with my t...

by Vu Doan

My name is Vu Doan. I am from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Grew up in a very conservative Vietnamese, Buddhist household. So I had girlfriends and was very much focused on school asAnd as the night ended, and I think everyone celebrated the highlight of the night, but I don’t think anyone there knew how much it meant to me because it really sparked int...

by Greg Miraglia

I’m Greg Miraglia, and I’m from Moraga, California.  In 1978, I discovered law enforcement as a possible career. I got really excited about it and I had a chance to jAnd I was thinking to myself, here I am working with colleagues and everybody’s afraid. And if anybody knew that I was gay, they would see me as a threat and I knew I’...

by Kai Ambakad

Hi, I’m Kai Ambakad from Fullerton, California. I was 19 and I was going to do errands and just have a good day with my mom. So we went out on a Sunday and we were shopping I decided that that was the last straw, because I didn’t need to hear that anymore. And I told her if she wanted to be a part of my life, if she wanted to be at my wedding o...

by Mike Matta

My name is Mike Matta. I’m from Chino, California.  It was February, 2012. It was Valentine’s Day during my junior year of college at UC Santa Barbara. At that point,That moment, in that bar together, we shared something. Even though we don’t know each other very well, we shared something. And I think there’s really something beaut...

by Cameron Reck

Hi, I’m Cameron Reck. I’m from Sebring, Florida. One time, when I was about 12, 13 years old, I ran out to go check the mail and in the mailbox was a random men’I suddenly had respect for my life and understanding that God made me the way that I am and I’m not a mistake. I still very much identify as a Christian. I never tell anyone...

by James Palmer

Hi, I’m James Palmer. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. In my mid 20s, I reached out to a therapist because I was having some challenges with the relationship that I was in, My life continued for six years. So for many years, I had thought that it was paramount that I, before my dad died, that I would be able to sit with him and to have a conversation...