Gay Teen to Attend Gay Mens Chorus Concert

Derrick Martin, the gay teen from Georgia who successfully pushed to be able to bring his boyfriend to his prom and was subsequently kicked out of his home by his parents, will be the guest of honor at tonight's Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus concert.

The 18-year-old honor student is expected to attend the chorus's "Georgia on My Mind" concert tonight at Virginia Highland Church in Atlanta.

Martin said he is surprised by all of the attention he is receiving, including the appeal he received from Ellen DeGeneres to appear on her show.

"I expected a story in The [Macon] Telegraph and that would be it," Martin told the GA Voice Thursday night.

While in Atlanta, Martin said he may look for a tuxedo.

Martin said he came out a year and a half ago, after he told his best friend and his parents found text messages he exchanged with someone he was dating.

"They knew something was up," Martin said. "I told them. Then they took my car, my iPod, my phone, my laptop -- every way they could think of to try to keep me from communicating with him. It was really hard back then ... but everything I've gone though has made me stronger."

According to chorus executive director Keith Fenton, Martin may return for one of the Saturday performances as well.

The chorus is ending its statewide tour with three performances on Friday and Saturday.