I'm From Driftwood
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Hidden in the Open: A Photographic Essay of Afro American Male Couples
This is soo good! Trent Kelley has compiled over 100 images revealing a long legacy of Black male couples. These are some of my faves. Check out his flickr page for more amazing images.
(via queermenofcolorinlove)
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Nodding to fashion’s ongoing preoccupation with pushing gender boundaries comes ‘Studs’, a series of ten unique photo studies. Exploring the idea of a third gender, Simon Foxton and Bea Sweet recruit a range of subjects who refuse to comply with traditional notions of the sexes. The portraits - each a study of unconventional beauty - are captured by Nick Knight in stills and fashion film.
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I'm From Bowie, MD by Daniel Harder
(Daniel’s story was collected for IFD’s Black Community Spotlight. Learn more)
From the time I was 4 or 5 years old, I knew that I was gay. I can even remember my first crush at that age. I don’t know if I had a true understanding of what being “gay” meant, but I knew that I had an attraction to the same sex. Yet, I was not comfortable and accepting of myself. I wanted to be like other young men I saw: macho, proud, strong, and attracted to women. Especially as a little black boy, these are some of the ideas that many people made me believe defined being a man.
I was taunted a lot throughout my early academic years in school. My voice was softer than other boys. I didn’t necessarily want to engage in the same activities that other boys did. Although, I did play football and basketball with my male friends and was quite good at it. However, five minutes later you could find me jumping double dutch and braiding hair with my female friends, and in complete heaven. I knew I was different, but the teasing and harassing that “friends” put me through, made me feel like I couldn’t be myself.
Now don’t get me wrong, growing up was a wonderful time for me. I had two parents and two step-parents who were extremely loving and supportive of me. I mean, our family could rival that of the Cosby’s, we’re so close. Yet, for some reason, I didn’t think that my family would be accepting of who I was; the true me. My family and I would have many discussions about loving me and accepting me for who I was, but I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I would hide my feelings; lie about them. Keeping them a secret. Why? I don’t know. Unlike many other families (especially in the black community), I wasn’t being shunned. Not once was I told I would be kicked out of my family’s house, or better yet, condemned to eternal damnation. Yet, I just couldn’t find the strength inside me to be as open and honest about who I was. First with myself, and then with others.
As time went on, I continued to hide my feelings. I “dated” girls to save face. Actually, the only time I kissed a girl was in a game of Truth or Dare. HA! By the time high school arrived, my focus shifted. I had found my true calling which was dance and enrolled in a performing arts program where I was surrounded by others who were different: lovers of the arts, other gay men and women. Everyone had a story, but loved one another exactly the way they were. I didn’t realize it at the time, but dance would become my medium to share with the world who I truly was.
Senior year rolled around, and something happened to me. I met someone. Not a girl, but a boy. We became completely enamored with one another and started dating. Secretly. Somehow, all of those feelings that I grew up with came flooding back to me. The teasing and taunting I had grown up with made me feel like I had to keep this man that I was in a relationship with hidden. I prayed a lot. Asking God to help me find the strength to accept who I was, but also to find the courage to be able to share who that person is with the world. I don’t remember exactly when it hit me, but with those prayers came understanding, acceptance, peace, and forgiveness. I eventually sat down with my family and closest friends, and shared the good news with them. I WAS GAY HONEY and PROUD! Tears were shed. Not because I was gay, but because I had finally come to a place where I could feel free.
As time has gone on, I’ve learned more and more about myself as a black gay man. It is a constant work in progress, but I’ve discovered I can be macho, proud, strong, and gay! I’ve learned not to define myself as how others see me, but only by how I see myself. As a performer, our goal is to always be as open and honest with our audience every night that we hit that stage. I don’t think that I would be able to do that night after night had I not found acceptance and love for myself first!
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Jeremy Craig, “I’m From Mayflower, AR”
A young man recounts his inspiring transition from selfish slacker to proud activist.
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- #video story
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Gary Hines, “I’m From Philadelphia, PA”
Gary remembers the excitement of first experiencing the gay, sometimes dramatic, nightlife scene with his friends, referring to themselves as “The Real Queens of San Jose.” (Closed captioning available here)
To reinforce the sometimes overlooked fact that there are black people in the LGBTQ community, and also that there are LGBTQ people in the black community, I’m From Driftwood’s very first Community Spotlight will feature stories from the black community all this week. We are also making a commitment to feature more stories of all people of color and different ethnicities beyond this week.
Wrapping up our Black Community Spotlight Week, Gary shares a funny flashback to when he first embraced his sexuality, and one night in particular preparing to go out and all the drama that ensued.
Share your story with us!
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Tyrone Smith, “I’m From Kinston, NC”
Tyrone remembers the onset of the AIDS epidemic and the pain it caused, but also how it brought the black LGBT community closer together than ever. (Closed captioning available here)
To reinforce the sometimes overlooked fact that there are black people in the LGBTQ community, and also that there are LGBTQ people in the black community, I’m From Driftwood’s very first Community Spotlight will feature stories from the black community all this week. We are also making a commitment to feature more stories of all people of color and different ethnicities beyond this week.
Tyrone, proudly proclaiming he’s 70 years old this year, remembers what it was like when AIDS struck Philadelphia. More specifically, he remembers his friendship with a young gay man who turned Tyrone into the activist and integral part of the Philly LGBT community he is today.
Share your story with us!
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Laverne Cox, “I’m From Mobile, AL”
Laverne Cox remembers the bullying she experienced as a child, and how it’s similar to the transphobia she experiences as an adult. (Video transcription available here)
To reinforce the sometimes overlooked fact that there are black people in the LGBTQ community, and also that there are LGBTQ people in the black community, I’m From Driftwood’s very first Community Spotlight will feature stories from the black community all this week. We are also making a commitment to feature more stories of all people of color and different ethnicities beyond this week.
Laverne is an actress and a transgender woman whose story takes us from her childhood experiences of being bullied, to the transphobia she experiences as an adult, and the acceptance she finally receives from her mother.
Share your story with us!
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Amber Hikes, “I’m From Atlanta, GA”
Not every black LGBTQ coming out experience is negative; Amber wishes everyone could have a mom like hers. (Closed captioning available here)
To reinforce the sometimes overlooked fact that there are black people in the LGBTQ community, and also that there are LGBTQ people in the black community, I’m From Driftwood’s very first Community Spotlight will feature stories from the black community all this week. We are also making a commitment to feature more stories of all people of color and different ethnicities beyond this week.
Amber shares a touching story about her mother, which gives a hopeful reminder that not all coming out stories in the black LGBTQ community are bad. As Amber says herself, “my experience is that people of color, when I hear their coming out stories, there’s always some element of tragedy or real struggle or estrangement from their families, and while that certainly has been the case with a lot of people, it wasn’t my experience.”
Share your story with us!
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Stephen Winter, “I’m From Chicago, IL”
Are black gay men just guest stars in white gay world? (Closed captioning available here)
To reinforce the sometimes overlooked fact that there are black people in the LGBTQ community, and also that there are LGBTQ people in the black community, I’m From Driftwood’s very first Community Spotlight will feature stories from the black community all this week. We are also making a commitment to feature more stories of all people of color and different ethnicities beyond this week.
Stephen Winter’s story was the last one we filmed, but was the one that tackled the issue of race in the LGBTQ community head on. He even challenged the purpose and necessity of having the Black Community Spotlight, much less being created by a gay white man. His honesty and frankness is refreshing and I thought it would be the perfect way to start the week.
Share your story with us!
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I’m from Driftwood Shares Black LGBT Stories Online and in NYC This Week
“I’m From Driftwood” is a nonprofit project that’s dedicated to bringing the stories of the LGBT community, the experiences of people “from all walks of life,” to the world. Their most recent initiative, the Community Spotlight, aims to devote a week to stories specifically from people that belong to typically underserved members of the queer community. The week of February 6th will be the Black Community Spotlight, in recognition of the fact that “there has been less progress for the black LGBTQ community in terms of workplace discrimination, housing discrimination, HIV/AIDS prevention, homelessness and general acceptance from both the straight community and even from the non-black LGBTQ community.”
These intimate stories from black LGBT individuals will take you through an array of emotions: a bisexual woman is graciously lead out of the closet by her mother only to be asked whom she would look at walking down the street: Halle Berry or Denzel Washington; a 70-year-old gay man remembers the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and while he lost many friends, it brought the black LGBT community closer together; a transgender woman, accomplished actress Laverne Cox, shares an empowering story about the secret to overcoming bullying, both as a child and as an adult; and a lesbian shares words of wisdom she received from an elder that dramatically changed her life less than 48 hours after hearing them. While the video stories have all been collected, members of the black LGBT community are encouraged to continue sharing their written stories on the website.
If you’re in NYC, you can get an extra-special preview of the Black Community Spotlight on Tuesday, the 31st. Besides a sneak peek at the featured stories, there’s also a silent auction, raffle, and a one-hour open bar!
