I'm From Driftwood - Daily gay, true stories

I’m From Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

by will o.

Shortly after graduating high school in 2002 I was mentally preparing myself to “come out” to my parents. My parents were the first people who I wanted to share this with because they were the most important people in my life.

Every night before I fell asleep I would say to myself, “Tomorrow is the day” but I would not be able to work up the nerve to tell them.

After many weeks of delaying this conversation with my parents I was emotionally drained and at a breaking point. After walking around for hours in the rain I came home and my parents knew something was wrong.

I’m From Riverside, CA.

by rick clemons

It all started as I kicked out of the womb. No, I didn’t have an epiphany as I ventured down the birth canal. And it wasn’t some stress of being birthed that caused me to be gay. In reality, it was the venturing into the world that launched me into the yet uncharted territory of finding my true self.

Beyond the crib and potty training I embarked into the typical yet atypical life of a young boy. Riding bikes, playing Indians and Cowboys, watching Gilligan’s Island. On the other side of me I was fascinated with art, envisioned myself dancing on stage, and was a veritable fountain of emotions beyond what a “normal” young man should have.

In high school, the yearnings and stirrings led me to tip toe into relationships with girls, enjoying the kissing, heavy petting, and wonderment of what was happening between my legs, yet still not feeling like I was an active participant in the experience. Of course, like most gay men (if they would be honest), I had numerous unconscious crushes on my best friend, the gym teacher, and other guys that I found myself purposefully working my way into any activity that would just get me close to them. However, it was all very unconsciously conscious in retrospect.

I’m From Spring, TX.

by nikki olsen

I once read that the ancient Egyptians had fifty words for sand and the Eskimos had a hundred words for snow. I wish I had a thousand words for love, but all that comes to mind is when SHE brushes up against me and puts her arms around me. And there are no words for [...]

Richard Socarides Recalls Coming Out To His Dad, One of the Founders of Conversion Therapy

by richard socarides

While everyone’s coming out story is different, Richard Socarides’ might be one of the most unique. Richard, who served as President Clinton’s senior adviser on gay rights, explains his coming out experience in his twenties: [My father] was the founder, or one of the founders, of the school of psychiatry that believed homosexuality was a [...]

I’m From Rootstown, OH.

by nathan gibson

Bags are packed. Rejected by peers and family members. I take a deep breath as I go through the security line at the airport. At first the obvious questions begin to race through my mind. Did I forget anything in my pockets? I hope I don’t get put in that little side room for questioning. [...]

I’m From Nicosia, Cyprus.

by nancy ponte

I was only 16 when I realised that I was a lesbian, when a lot of the relationships that I had with guys failed, just because I felt that something was wrong with me. My lesbian love story started when I was in high school. I met a strange girl in 2010 and we became [...]

AIDS Activist and Radio DJ Explain How Their Relationship Works

by jim schneider and edward strickler

Edward Strickler would rather talk about his AIDS activism. Jim would rather talk about his favorite African guitarist, Diblo Dibala. They met in 1981 and have been together since. Ed explains how their differences help make their relationship work: We were able to sustain each other because I really enjoy the radio show and he [...]

I’m From The Bronx, NY.

by peter domani

“Hey you, you in the leather jacket, what are you a faggot?” I was on my way to work in the North Bronx, when I heard a teenager yelling this at me from across the street. He was with other teenagers, and they were laughing and egging him on. I was about 19 years old [...]

I’m From Bristol, England, UK.

by sam l

As I sat on my bed gazing at the television screen watching BBC Parliament for the first time, it occurred to me that I will always remember this day, February 5, 2013, for this was the day in the United Kingdom where the gay marriage bill was either to be declined or accepted by the [...]

A Gay Man’s Journey of Marrying a Straight Woman.

by todd howard

Todd Howard was gay, out, and lived in San Francisco. He then married a woman. We ended up getting married because I had, with all my relationships with males in San Francisco, sort of fallen short. And what was confirmed in me, having had that relationship and bond with a woman, was not…I was in [...]