Georgia student’s family disowns and assaults him in nightmarish gay ‘intervention’ video

[meegbear]

A 20-year-old college student in Kennesaw, Georgia recorded a violent, anti-gay “intervention” that his family conducted, video of which has gone viral, netting more than 2 million views on YouTube and pulling in donations and messages of support from all over the world.

Daniel Ashley Pierce told Huffington Post Thursday that he came out to his family in October of 2013, but that on Wednesday, 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.

Pierce said that he recorded the family meeting because, “I wanted to make sure there was evidence in case something happened.”

“Pierce’s video began going viral,” wrote Cavan Sieczkowski, “after it was posted by Dan Savage with Seattle’s The Stranger. In the five-minute clip, which does not focus on any individual’s face, the people in the room with Pierce can be heard telling him his sexuality is a choice. When he disputes that, they use religion as an argument.”

<snip>

The recording of the nightmarish confrontation has gone viral. Pierce’s boyfriend 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. By 9:30 A.M. on Friday, well-wishers had donated more than $53,000.

In a note at the Go Fund Me site, Pierce wrote, “Oh My you guys! I am in tears! I didn’t realize that this was even set up for me! I am so thankful for all the comments, support and donations! I don’t even know how to thank y’all! I wish I could give each and everyone of you a huge hug! I was trying to respond to everyone but I couldn’t keep up!! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! This is all just so amazing!!!”

“Thank You from the bottom of my heart!!” he said.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/08/29/georgia-students-family-disowns-and-assaults-him-in-nightmarish-gay-intervention-video/

I posted the video yesterday in the Video forum. Glad to see he's getting the support and hugs he deserves.

[love_katz]

1. sweet looking guy.

I hope he moves in with the boyfriend, and wish them both the very best of joy and success.

[AverageJoe90]

2. I wish Daniel the best of luck from this point on.

After all he's been through.....he deserves all the support he can get.

[eShirl]

3. it's up to $72k already

at this rate he might be able to buy his own house/home

[cstanleytech]

5. That or it could help him go to college.

[secondwind]

4. I'm happy that Daniel has so much support....

[hifiguy]

6. For once an awful story has a happy ending.

Nice to see there are so many great people out there. I wish Daniel a long, happy and fulfilling life. He deserves it.

[logosoco]

7. I watched that video last night and he has been on my mind all day.

Glad to see this photo (and with his dog, there was a glimpse of the dog in the video). I am glad people have reached out to help him. I hope the words of his parents leave his head and he can have a heart full of love now.

[indivisibleman]

8. Wow!

This family has a ton of problems. Can you imagine the turmoil they must go through on a daily basis and they wouldn't have to.

[Rex]

9. So the unconditional love Jesus begged his followers to immulate...just lip service?

WTF is up with all these pretend Christians?

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong."

[YOHABLO]

10. I don't think I can watch it.

I hope he gets away from that ''family'' and finds some happiness elsewhere. It is so sad we have so much ignorance perpetrated under this guise of ''christian love''. Bull shit Bull shit. It just goes to show you how gullible and stupid these religious freaks are.

[GentryDixon]

12. It was heartbreaking.

How can any parent disown their child? The Bible according to these fools is actually a weapon of hate.

I wish the very best for Daniel and his partner.

[ReRe]

11. I couldn't listen to that all the way to the end...

... it was too too painful to hear. So glad that folks have come out of the woodwork to help this young man. He doesn't need those people. Hopefully he will end up with a loving partner and loving inlaws who will love him for his wonderful self. The doggie-dog loves him.