GEORGETOWN, D.C. — Georgetown University has offered a full scholarship to Seth Owen, a gay high school valedictorian from Florida whose dreams of attending the prestigious institution were derailed by a clash between his family’s religion and his own sexuality. The university’s generosity is only the latest addition to a national wave of support for Owen.
Owen was kicked out of his home in February. He had asked his parents if he could stop attending their church because he found their rhetoric anti-LGBTQ. They gave him a choice: He could stay in his church and his family, or he could leave.
First Coast News, an ABC affiliate, quoted Randy Owen, Seth’s father, as saying his son was not kicked out. “I made clear we are not kicking him out, but we worship as a family,” he said. “He’s allowed to live here as long as he worships the same way we worship.”
Owen moved out, relying on the generosity of friends in the Jacksonville area. “Throughout this all, Seth held his head high and continued to work almost full-time while finishing high school at the top of his class as the co-valedictorian,” said Jane Martin, his biology teacher and mentor, on the GoFundMe page she set up for him.
“I know the goal seems unrealistic and the circumstances aren’t ideal, but I also know communities can make the impossible possible,” Martin said. She was right: Her goal of raising $20,000 for Owen was surpassed. As of 1:30 p.m. Saturday, generous donors have pledged $134,809 since June 18.
If anybody deserves a free college education based on academic merit, it’s Owen. Not only was he co-valedictorian, but The Hill reports he graduated with a 4.16 GPA. He was also captain of the swim team, sophomore class president and an honor society member.
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And thanks to dual enrollment, he graduated high school four credits shy of an associate’s degree, First Coast News reports.
Coming Out
Owen told First Coast he had kept his sexuality hidden from his family for most of his life. One night when he was studying, his father looked through his phone. “When he woke up my mom I knew he found something bad,” he said. It was “something that clearly indicated I was not straight.”
Owen said his parents grilled him all night, not letting him leave his room. He finally told them he was gay.
At one point, Owen’s father told him “Biblically, we have the right to stone you for what you’re saying,” he said, according to First Coast.
They sent Owen to gay conversion therapy. “Technically he’s a ‘Christian counselor,'” he said. “But he made it very clear it was because I was gay, and his goal was to ‘fix’ that.”
His parents would accept him, but only their own version of him. When Seth asked his parents if he could find his own church, they denied him, he said.
Paying it Forward
Owen released a statement Friday. “Georgetown is my dream school because of the limitless opportunities it provides to its students. In particular, my interest in the school was piqued by the prestigious program of study in the Walsh School of Foreign Service.”
“Thank you to all who have donated to the campaign. Your generosity will help me succeed academically this year and in the years to come. 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. 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.”
Visit Out Magazine to see Owen’s full statement.
Article image via GoFundMe, a promotional Partner of Patch