I'm From Driftwood |
ImFromDriftwood.com: True stories by LGBTQ people from all over. We envision a world where every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer person feels understood and accepted, and every straight and cisgender person is an ally. I’m From Driftwood aims to help LGBTQ people learn more about their community, straight people learn more about their neighbors and everyone learn more about themselves through the power of storytelling and story sharing.
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I'm From Singapore
by Chase L.
Coming out to her was easy. But for her to accept who I am, was not.
The first time I met her, I couldn’t recognize her as one of my classmates in school. She just waved at me with that brilliant sunshine smile. Ironically, my first thought was who is this crazy girl.
When I told her I was gay, there was a look of disgust on her face. She couldn’t accept who I am because of her religious teachings and she felt “disgusted.” Those were the words that stuck and are still etched onto my mind. But after a few days, she came and told me, “Chase, I was disgusted when you told me that you are gay, but you have to understand that I came from a place where the word “gay” does not exist, and you are the first gay person that I have ever met, but that does not mean I do not want you to be my friend.”
And that was 5 years ago.
Now, our friendship has blossomed into a wonderful relationship. We stood by each other through birthdays, loneliness, breakups, my coming out. Just 2 weeks ago, I brought my boyfriend to her place and introduced him to her parents, it’s like introducing my boyfriend to an extended family. But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Arguments still occur, big fights still happen. Her religious views still stand firm, and my advocacy views on gay rights do not waver. But in the end, she loves me for who I am as a person, and according to her, being gay is just part of me, it does not totally define who I am as a person, and her love for me is for Chase, and not for a gay boy.
She’s not your typical fag hag. She’s just someone who will pick me up from a gay club when I am drunk, talk to me on the phone when I am being left alone, defend my integrity, my rights, my character in my absence. Someone who will go shopping with me, tells me I look ugly today, check out cute boys with me, willingly be dragged along to check out dates with. She will always be ready to pick me up when I fall, and throw the confetti when we celebrate. She’s my best friend, Genevieve.
In the end, if there are friends who loved you, they will love you for who you are. They will celebrate your strengths and embrace the flaws.
Thank you, Gen.
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NotesKhary, “I’m From Queens, NY”
The importance of black gay friendship and how it enhanced Khary’s life. (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.
Khary’s story focuses on the importance of not just finding another gay friend when you’re becoming aware of your own sexuality, but finding a gay friend who is also black.
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Notes I'm From Webster, TXby Susi
“Oh man, Susi! I gotta talk to you. It’s like, an emergency.”
“Sure, what up dude?”
“I can’t say it over the phone! It’s too important!”
“Okay, drama queen, come on over then.”
Interesting… My boyfriend never starts a conversation off like that. He sounded nervous, agitated, and excited all at once. I guess all good things come to an end so I better start packing up his crap because I’m getting the boot. I should also prepare an “I’m the best thing that ever happened to you” speech.
When Blaine came over he didn’t even bother coming in the door. He told me that Steven needed to speak to him about important matters. Blaine was in OMG mode because he was expecting an out-of-the-closet talk and it was coming later that evening.
Steven? He was the dude who worked at the Boardwalk not making penis balloons. He seemed kind of quiet and impervious to humor. But that could have been because his main source of income was making balloon animals. I’m sure if one more jerk asked him to make a penis balloon, that jerk would get shanked.
So I said, oh. I guess I was used to people getting all gay on me. I didn’t have the ‘dar and so I’d be genuinely surprised when my sister, my best friend, and a multitude of other friends came out of the closet.
“How do I let him know I care about him? How do I say it’s okay and I won’t think any less of him? Susi help me! He’s my good friend and I don’t want to say anything dumb!”
Here he was, some guy I caught on a rebound, racking his brain with something to say to a good friend. That’s probably the most emotion I’ve seen pour out of him ever. Never mind that I almost exorcised my guts on him when I had a C-section delivering his progeny. Nary a tear out of the dude!
Also, I don’t know why he was asking me for advice since I’m 0% for intelligent responses regarding the “coming out” talk:
“Are you kidding me?”
“Oh, like ‘happy’?” (That was my most ridiculous response. I was 12 when my sister came out.)
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Does this mean we’re going to Club Rainbow from now on?”Not that I’m not open-minded, I’m just not really good at thinking on my feet. But Blaine and I sat down and we talked, and I told him all the things I would say if someone came out of the closet to me and I had the chance to formulate my thoughts. Basically, your run of the mill Hallmark Channel friendship stuff.
Blaine left later that evening when Steven came, with sweaty palms and confidence.
Later, he called me up and he sounded kind of funny.
“Susi! He just wanted to go shrooming!”
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NotesBarry Warner, “I’m From Berlin, PA” (TRIGGER WARNING: Homophobia, Physical Violence)
After caring for a friend in high school, Barry’s friend confuses friendship with sexuality and lashes out violently.
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