When Daniel Ashley Pierce is confronted about his sexual orientation by his family in a “religious intervention,” the scene turns startlingly dramatic and violent. Using real audio combined with virtual reality to put the audience inside the story, Exile is a powerful parable of the kind of hostility faced by so many in the LGBTQ community. With 40% of homeless youth in America identifying LGBTQ, the piece shines light on this terrible statistic and further reveals that the majority of those facing homelessness come from communities of color. Equal parts tragic and hopeful, the piece ends with resilience and courage as Daniel and 3 other LGBTQ youth share their triumph over despair and remind us that all young people need to be true to themselves.

Length: 12 minutes

Country of Origin: USA