Family Diversity Projects

07/30/2025

A big thank you to I'm From Driftwood for the feature on Peggy Gillespie - we're grateful for the incredible storytelling you do!

07/30/2025

We are thrilled for Peggy Gillespie to join Family Equality for a discussion about the State of LGBTQ+ Families today at 3pm.

The panel will explore where we've been, where we are, and what it will take to build a more just and affirming future for LGBTQ+ families. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🤍🩵🤎🖤

04/28/2024

03/12/2024

Join a panel of my co-authors from the book/exhibit AUTHENTIC SELVES: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and their Families tomorrow, Wed. March 13th at 6:30-7:30 p.m. (eastern time) being held by the Arlington Virginia Public Library where the exhibit is on display. If you are in or near Arlington, VA there will be a live event with Joey Morelli and book signing, too, earlier in the day! Or come visit the exhibit anytime the library is open. Here is the link to RSVP for the panel discussion (they will send you the zoom link. Link: https://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/11220725

02/21/2024

https://youtu.be/8uAF3Nj9jV8. WATCH THIS BEAUTIFUL 1 minute video by one of the authors Joey Morelli about an event in Boise, Idaho celebrating our AUTHENTIC SELVES book. Tell your friends who live there to come to the event! So many anti-trans bills in Idaho. Help fight transphobia. If you aren't in Boise you can livestream the event on March 2 on zoom if you RSVP . Powerful video by Joey!

01/26/2024

Looking for Pioneer Valley area LGBTQIA+ people who would like to tell their stories on video for a national non-profit organization. It would kind of be like a Moth story. You can Private Message me and I'll connect you with the person in charge. Here is the request:

We're looking for folks in Northampton and nearby LGBTQIA+ community who would be interested in sharing a story with our archive.

For folks who want to know a little more about us: I’m From Driftwood is a non-profit online archive of first-person LGBTQIA+ video histories from all over the world. Its mission is simple - to reassure q***r and trans people everywhere that they are not alone through the power of storytelling. We do this by filming and publishing these narratives and distributing them through our website and social media. The stories range from love, first dates, and parenting, to race, homeless youth and gender nonconformity. Check out the website and some of the stories for a better understanding of our mission.

Typically, each recording takes about 60 minutes and takes place in the storyteller’s own home, as that tends to broadcast a more warm and comfortable image. Our set up is extremely compact - two lights, a wired mic, and the camera/tripod. Once edited, the videos are housed on our website and on our YouTube channel.

We hold the storyteller’s hand from start to finish, including helping them think of a story to share and then ultimately helping them deliver the story on camera. Our only requirement is that the story relate to the person being LGBTQIA+ and that the story is personally significant to them. Andrew, for example, shared a story about coming out to his parents, while Sharlot shared how her daughter's birth inspired her to live authentically, and KishaLynn shared a story about her secret wedding in the age of Prop 8. The types of stories really do run the gamut of the q***r and trans experience.

If you can think of anyone who might be interested, please have them contact me via my email ([email protected]).

Thanks again!

Damien