Gay Valedictorian Receives Full University Scholarship After Parents Make Him Homeless
August 6, 2018
Openly gay valedictorian Seth Owens has been awarded a full scholarship following a successful crowdfunding effort he was forced to undertake when his parents kicked him out of home for being gay.
Owen’s parents discovered he was gay after finding photos on his phone. They then made him attend counselling for conversion therapy and forced him to go to their anti-LGBT+ church. “They made it clear the intention was to make me straight,” Owen said.
Owen refused to keep attending church and his parents kicked him out, making him homeless. “I was really, really upset,” Owen said. “It was extremely hurtful to know that I was walking out that door not knowing what lay ahead and feeling I don’t know how to explain it, it was devastating, absolutely devastating.”
Miraculously, Owen maintained a 4.16 GPA, becoming co-valedictorian of First Coast High School. He was accepted into Georgetown University and received a partial scholarship for first year tuition, although still had to pay $20,000. One of his former teachers started a GoFundMe page to help raise the rest.
Following media attention from the GoFundMe page, Georgetown University has extended a full scholarship to Owen.
“The Office of Student Financial Services was instrumental in helping me enroll in the Georgetown Scholarship Program, whose purpose is to make attendance at Georgetown possible for students in a financial situation similar to my own,” Owen wrote Friday on his GoFundMe page. “This program also includes mentoring and networking opportunities which will help me to assist others in situations similar to the one I found myself in earlier this year.”
Owen’s original $20,000 goal has been met with more than $130,000 in donations.
“At the moment, I am in process of exploring the establishment of a scholarship to help LGBTQ+ scholars who find themselves in the circumstance I was in earlier this year,” Owen writes. “I am looking forward to utilizing the resources of Georgetown to help with this effort.”
“Again, a simple ’Thank You’ seems to be not enough for all of the support I’ve received from so many. I will be seeking to pass on the kindness and generosity that I have been shown.”
Owen plans on using his degree to become a defence attorney to help other homeless teenagers.
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