MIAMI GARDENS – A gay teenager endured years of psychological abuse in a north Miami-Dade County faith-based foster home, treatment that was instigated by his admission to being gay.

The unidentified teen (whose name has been withheld for his protection) entered foster care at age 10, and was later sexually assaulted by another child who was subsequently arrested. Later, the boy was admitted to His House Children’s Home in Miami Gardens, which describes itself as “a private, non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to restoring the joy in the lives of children from newborn to 18 years of age, and those who have transitioned out of the foster care system.”

The teen reported that when he turned 16 years old, officials began to suspect his friendship with another male teen was more than platonic, and he described being coerced into admitting his sexual identity. In a claim made to state investigators, the teenager claims that administrators confronted him with his admission, forbade any further contact with the other boy, and began a concerted effort to “convert” him to heterosexuality.

After the indignity of an attempt at forced “conversion,” the victim reported that he was continuously humiliated by staff, administrators, and other foster children. Investigators say that the foster home ceased any efforts to find a permanent adoption for the teenager, and found him ineligible for a scholarship that would have covered his higher education.

After the teen contacted his court-appointed guardian, that individual requested an investigation by the state Department of Children and Families (DCF), but officials said that the parties had not broken any laws, and failed to pursue the matter.