ATLANTA: Gay Teen Daniel Pierce Speaks At Homeless Shelter Open House Event

Via Project Q Atlanta:

Last month, Daniel Pierce was disowned by his family in a violent confrontation as they attempted a "pray away the gay" intervention. Pierce, a 19-year-old college student, recorded the incident in a video that quickly went viral and was viewed by millions of people. On Friday, Pierce was on hand for Lost N Found's open house and thanked supporters during an event on the steps of a Midtown building the group is working to turn into an expanded shelter for gay teens. "This has been a crazy ride," Pierce said. "I just want to thank everyone for the kind comments. It's just helping me get through a lot of this." Volunteers helped clean up the 7,000-square-foot structure earlier this year in the early steps of a $400,000 renovation. On Friday, the group's executive director, Rick Westbrook said fundraising continues and the group hopes to open the facility in 2015. "There are no words to express what you all have done for us," Westbrook told supporters. "You make this possible for us."