Gay Florida teen kicked out of home lands internship with Dem congresswoman

[RandySF]

The gay Florida teen who received national attention last year after his parents kicked him out of his home and left him without enough money to attend Georgetown recently landed an internship at Rep. Stephanie Murphy's (D-Fla.) office and is prospering at the university.

Murphy's office told The Hill on Saturday the congresswoman had contacted Georgetown to offer her support and an internship for Seth Owen after hearing about his story.

"I am proud that Seth chose to be a part of our team," Murphy said in a statement to The Hill. "He will always be welcomed here, and I'm am happy to see him thrive. Our entire office is rooting for his continued success."

Owen began interning at the congresswoman's office in January and will be working with the office for the remainder of his spring semester.

Owen told the Orlando Sentinel Friday that he has also started a scholarship designed to help "students in marginalized communities access post-secondary education." He said he used a $25,000 donation he received from Ellen DeGeneres last year to start the initiative, which will be provided by his Unbroken Horizons Scholarship Foundation.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gay-florida-teen-kicked-out-of-home-lands-internship-with-dem-congresswoman/ar-BBUilYO?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

[monmouth4]

1. Ellen should be a recipient of a Profiles In Courage or some other award. She helps so many people.

[NurseJackie]

4. Ellen DeGeneres Medal of Freedom Award 11-22-16

[monmouth4]

5. Thank you, now I remember and so well deserved. What a great person and I don't even

watch her show..LOL.

[oasis]

2. Dems care. GOP could care less. Wake up America. nt

[Dorian Gray]

3. This poor kid

I'm sure all the kindnesses and opportunities don't make up for the loss of his parents. That they turned their backs on him is horrifying.

I'm so happy he's landing on his feet and doing good for others, too! He's someone that we should all look up to!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. I cannot begin to imagine what kind of parent would think

kicking their kid out for something like this is the right thing to do.

[Odoreida]

7. Not my parents, but ...

I have seen this a lot.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. I know. I hear of this a lot.

And I want to say that my younger son was very challenging in his teen years. At one point he moved out for six weeks. NOT because we threw him out, but because he decided to leave.

It was a very difficult time for me. We weren't completely positive where he was staying, although we correctly guessed which friend he'd gone to stay with. Every other day I'd drive over to his school to make sure his car was in the parking lot, because I was terrified he'd stop going to school and flunk out of high school at the end of his senior year.

After about six weeks he called me up and asked if he could come back home. We said yes.

His sexual orientation was absolutely not an issue. I'll spare everyone all the details, but I honestly think it came down to the fact that a 17 or 18 year old male is in many ways ready to be on his own, could easily be a soldier, but all too often in our culture is left in a condition of dependency.

Several years later I did see the mother of the kid he stayed with and told her how incredibly grateful I was for providing him with a safe place at that time. I feel as if I should contact her regularly to express my appreciation. Even though my son's circumstances were very different, his having a safe place really mattered.

I'd like to think I'd do the same for someone else's child.

[justgamma]

9. I'm sure

it was a "family values Christian".

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Alas, you are probably right.

I don't consider myself a Christian. And MY family values do not include throwing a kid out of my home. Do read my post above.

[Indykatie]

12. My Daughter's Fiance Has a Daughter that Came Out

She's a 15 y/o who was exhibiting behavior issues and depression. She disliked my daughter and wasn't shy about it. My daughter struggled to connect with her until she shared the secret with her. My daughter was 100% supportive and insisted that her dad support her without reservations. She has since come to live with them and is happy, thriving academically and in running track. Seeing the strong bond that has developed between her and my daughter is just wonderful.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. Wow. What a great story.

For me the take-away here is the secret. Many years ago, in a completely different context, someone once said to me, "We are only as sick as our secrets." That has always stayed with me.

I am so glad your story has a happy ending.

Life is hard enough without issues of the kind being talked about here.

[crazytown]

10. Owen used the $25,000 he received from Ellen to start a scholarship

The Unbroken Horizons Scholarship

(crying)

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. So remind me now

Who's the party of "Family Values"?