A gay teenager disowned by his parents has received more than $90,000 from an internet campaign after a horrifying video of his experience went viral.
Daniel Ashley Pierce, a 19-year-old college student from Kennesaw, Georgia secretly filmed a confrontation with his Christian parents who disapproved of him being gay.
In the video, Mr Pierce is overheard arguing with his stepmother who demands he move out because she "cannot condone" his homosexuality. She says: "I believe in the word of God and God creates nobody that way. It's the path that you have chosen to choose".
His father is overheard calling his son a "disgrace" and a "damn queer".
Warning, video may disturb some viewers.
The argument escalates into violence with Mr Pierce reportedly being punched in the face repeatedly.
Mr Pierce told The Huffington Posts he filmed the "delayed intervention" with his family because he wanted to "make sure there was evidence in case something happened".
Mr Pierce posted the shocking five-minute video on his Facebook page, before it was shared on Reddit by his boyfriend and uploaded to YouTube.
Within days, the video – entitled "How not to react when your son tells you he's gay" – went viral and has now been seen over 3 million times, and he was inundated with messages of support.
A Gofundme crowdfunding campaign created by his friends aiming to raise $2000 to help the teenager with living expenses after being kicked out of his parents' house has raised a staggering $90,000 – and counting – in just two days, with over 3400 people pledging donations from all over the world.
Mr Pierce, who is now living with friends, said he planned to donate some of the contributions to help other LGBT young people.
On his Gofundme page, Mr Pierce wrote to thank his supporters saying,"My life was turned upside down. With this support I am beginning to put it back together."
