by Aaron Lawlor

My name is Aaron Lawlor and I’m from Vernon Hills, Illinois. At the age of 21, I was appointed to my local library board. By 23, I was elected president of that board. My career...

by Stephen Mosher

I’m Stephen Mosher. I’m from Dallas, Texas. When I was in college, I met the man that would eventually become my husband and during the first weeks when we’re together, shar...

by Janet Hart

My name is Janet Hart and I’m from San Francisco. I grew up within the gay community. My mom came out when I was about 5 years old. My sister was probably about a year old. And ...

by D'Ontace Keyes

My name is D’Ontace Keyes. I am from Chicago, Illinois. In 2009, within Philadelphia, I was studying at the University of the Arts. It was my sophomore year and it was a really ...

by Pearl Bennett

“What Was It Like? Stories by LGBTQ Elders” is a new program by I’m From Driftwood, in partnership with Comcast, the nation’s largest cable provider, and SAGE, the countTRANSCRIPTS: “IN THE LONG RUN, I’M GOING TO BE HAPPY I TOLD HER THIS.” My name is Pearl, I’m a transgender woman. I didn’t transition until I was 50 years of age. Back i“I’M NOT TAKING THIS DRESS OFF.” In 1997, give or take a year or two, I was working out on Fire Island, a barrier island, off of Long Island, and I worked at this little res“THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING PUBLICLY AS A WOMAN: “HE YELLED, ‘THAT’S A MAN!’” The year was 2000. I was living my life as a woman, as Pearl. I had not changed my “JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE DOG RUN.” During that first year before any, before my transition, I, the day before, I went to the dog, took my dogs to the dog run as Ken. And I wen“THAT’S HOW I CAME OUT TO THE FAMILY.” The big hurdle for me was telling my family about my living as a woman now, living as a transgender woman. What I did is, I went to a “MY NAME WAS PEARL FROM THEN ON.” The year was around 1997. I went out, it was Gay Pride weekend. I marched in the Gay Pride parade with some friends in New York City. They we...

by Thom Hansen

“I Wouldn’t Kiss You If You Were The Last Boy On Earth.” Well it was 1969 just pre-Stonewall. And I was a Sophomore in high school. I went to St. Peter’s Preparatory Schoo...

by Victor Mendolia

I’m Victor Mendolia and I’m from Selden, New York, which is on Long Island. When I was 16, I started going out to Fire Island, to Cherry Grove. I had recently left this born-a...

by Christa Orth

I’m Christa Orth and I’m from Bothell, Washington. I grew up as a teenager there in the early 90s and I grew up Catholic so I’d go to church every Sunday with my parents. Be...

by Doug Rice

I’m Doug Rice, I’m from Rochester, New York. Robert and I met in 1983 at a record store I was working at. He came in as a customer and I’d just gone to a Talking Heads conce...