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."

Dr. Drew Interviews Daniel Pierce

The Advocate sets up the clip below:

Previewing the video, host Dr. Drew Pinsky and his panel offered a little context on the situation that ensued before Pierce began filming. The teen's grandparents, father, and stepmother were attempting to stage an "intervention" surrounding his sexual orientation, allegedly trying to send him to a "reparative therapy" program where he could try to "pray away the gay." When Pierce stood firm in his conviction that being gay was not a choice, the situation quickly escalated into violence. Before welcoming Pierce to the show, Pinsky hosted a panel to discuss the video, including a call from a self-proclaimed "ex-gay" man who practices so-called reparative therapy. Pinsky acknowledged that he is concerned by those who would try to change a person's sexual orientation but still welcomed David Pickup to the program, noting that he believed Pickup's view, while controversial, was worth hearing. Video of the segment featuring Pickup is not available through the show's website, though a transcript of the conversation is available via CNN. In the second half of the segment, Pinky welcomes Pierce, who he identifies under the pseudonym "David." Most of Pinsky's panelists laud the teenager's poise, grace, and courage in coming out despite the hostile reaction.

David Pickup, of course, is the NARTH-affiliated "ex-gay" crackpot on whose behalf the Liberty Counsel failed to overturn California's ban on "ex-gay" torture.