Kind strangers raise money for gay teen to go to university after parents disown him

Kind strangers have pulled together to raise money for a gay teenager to go to university after his parents disowned him.

Bright Seth Owen, 18, graduated from First Coast High School, in Jacksonville, after receiving top grades.

The Valedictorian was offered a place at prestigious college Georgetown University in Washington DC, but he could not afford the tuition fees to attend after his parents cut him off.

Mr Owen said he was forced by his parents to attend gay conversion therapy for over a year, before he was given an ultimatum of either attending church or leaving the family home.

The talented student chose the latter and left home in January after refusing their demands.

Mr Own told NBC news: “The worst part was I was packing my bags, and I was walking out the door, and I was hoping that my mom would stand in my way. I was hoping that she would say ‘I love my child more than I love my religion.’”

Desperate to see Mr Owen achieve, one of his teachers stepped in and set up a GoFundMe page for her pupil to help him get to college.

Jane Martin, who said Mr Owen was the ring bearer at her wedding, wrote: “I know the goal seems unrealistic and the circumstances aren’t ideal, but I also know communities can make the impossible possible.

“It’s Pride Month and rainbows abound around the world. Help me bring a rainbow in the midst of Seth’s storm.”

The crowdfunding page has raised more than $70,000, and is close to reaching the $75,000 mark.

Ms Martin said: “Seth was just a kid that really stood out to me. He was super ambitions and was always trying to go above and beyond to make sure he could be as successful as possible.”

Mr Owen said it was his “life goal” to attend college, and said: “I was the nerd in fifth grade who walked around recess talking about how I wanted to be an astronaut.

“I was always in a textbook, always in the library, always reading something.”

The teen added he has felt “unconditional love” since the donations came flooding in.

He wrote on the GoFundMe page: "I must begin by emphasizing that I simply cannot say thank you to you all enough. My dreams have come true because of you all."

Mr Owen said he plans to move to Washington DC next month to join Georgetown University’s Class of 2022.