Daniel Ashley Pierce, 19, from Georgia says he filmed the 5-minute clip because he was concerned about what might happen when he revealed his sexuality to his Christian parents when they attempted to stage a "pray the gay away' intervention.
Pierce is now living with friends, who created a Gofundme crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to help with his living expenses.
The initial target of $2000 was quickly surpassed and he has now received more than $93,000 in three days.
The video, which was uploaded to Reddit under the title 'how not to react when your child tells you he's gay' by Pierce's boyfriend, quickly went viral and has attracted more than 3 million views.
In the video, Pierce is heard arguing over whether being gay is a choice with his stepmother before it escalates and becomes violent with his father repeatedly attacking him.
Warning: Video contains graphic content
"I thought for myself, for my own protection if something were to happen it would be best to have it on video. I just hit record. I just hit camera and hit record. I just know that I did it for my protection and it kind of all went from there, and the video really speaks for itself," Pierce said in an interview with a local Atlanta TV station.
"What I hope people take away from watching that is it still happens. A lot of people don't realize that it happens. They see all the positive videos and the negative video never gets seen so if one family maybe watches it and maybe changes their mind in how they are going to handle it about their son or daughter coming out, one family and I will be happy. I want to education people on the issue because it is something going on," Pierce said.
On his Facebook page Pierce said he was surprised at the strength and violence of the reaction from his family recorded in the video.
“I didn’t know that my biggest problem was going to be getting disowned and kicked out of my home of almost twenty years. To add insult to injury my stepmother punched me in the face repeatedly with my grandmother cheering her along.”
On the Gofundme page Pierce thanked people for their support.
"I would like to the opportunity to thank each and everyone of you who has so generously donated," he wrote.
He added he was intending to donate some of the money to LGBTI causes that would help other teenagers facing difficulties coming out.
"My intent is to pay if (sic) forward and hopefully turn something so negative into something positive. I will do my best to value the gift I have been given by so many of you. Thank you for your love and support."
