He came out to his family in October last year, then on Wednesday last week, his father, stepmother, mother and grandparents assembled in his father’s house to disown him and cut off all support if he refused to submit to religious counseling, so-called “pray away the gay” therapy.
He recorded what happened …
“You can deny it all you want to,” says Pierce’s stepmother, “but I believe in the word of God, and God creates nobody that way. It’s a path that you have chosen to choose.”
Pierce tries to explain that science has proven that sexual orientation is not a choice, but an innate quality.
“Scientific proof trumps the ‘word of God,’” he says.
“You go by all the scientific stuff you want to,” she replies. “I’m going by the word of God.”
When Pierce refuses to back down, his family members attack him, punching and slapping him. They call him a “little piece of shit,” a “damn queer” and a “disgrace.”
“What is wrong with you people?” Pierce asks after one bout of physical violence.
“What’s wrong with you?” they scream back.
The above YouTube clip has gone viral … and be warned, rather sadly some of the comments there from “loving” bible-thumping believers are quite vile.
There is some good news here, a friend set him up a Go Fund Me account to try to raise $2,000 for Pierce to live on while he finds a place to live. In the last 3 days, well-wishers had donated more than $93,000.
Daniel writes at the above …
I would like to the opportunity to thank each and everyone of you who has so generously donated. My intent is to pay if forward and hopefully turn something so negative into something positive. I will do my best to value the gift I have been given by so many of you. Thank you for your love and support.
If you would still like to make a donation please consider donating to Lost-N-Found Youth in Atlanta… they have been an amazing support and resource through this difficult time.
http://www.lost-n-found.org
Sincerely
Daniel
The comments at the above Go Fund Me are a lot more positive, and even a few Christians pop up with positive things to say and demonstrate that not everybody who believes is an obnoxious twat, here is one example from a lady who is a believer …
Our son came out two years ago. It hit me hard, because he was brought up in church. However, my husband and I both told him that we love him. He came out of his room a crying his eyes out because he was so scared. We have not met his partner, but we have told him that his partner is welcome in our home. I have friends who are gay as well as a family member and as far as we are concern that is who they are just like our son and you. It is, in my opinion, not a choice, but how you feel, if that makes sense. God doesn’t make mistakes. We are to love one another, and I pray that you will find love and joy with your partner in the years to come. I also pray, that someday your family will realize, who they have lost in a son and grandson.
The tragedy here is that what happened to Daniel is not an isolated case, in our day and age it is still all too common because an irrational belief.
You can still help, by donating to your local gay youth shelter.
- NYC: http://www.aliforneycenter.org/
- Seattle: http://www.youthcare.org/
- L.A.: http://laglc.convio.net/