( CNN ) -- The anti-gay rights activist who recently toured Europe with a male escort has resigned from a group that promotes counseling for people who `` struggle with unwanted homosexuality , '' though the man insists that he is not gay . George Rekers resigned from the board of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality , the group 's website said Tuesday . `` I am immediately resigning my membership in NARTH to allow myself the time necessary to fight the false media reports that have been made against me , '' Rekers said in a statement posted on the group 's website . `` With the assistance of a defamation attorney , I will fight these false reports because I have not engaged in any homosexual behavior whatsoever . `` I am not gay and never have been , '' the statement said . The association accepted the resignation , saying on its website Tuesday that it `` would hope that the legal process will sufficiently clarify the questions that have arisen in this unfortunate situation . '' The group has scrubbed Rekers ' writings from its site , with a page that formerly featured his work now bearing the message , `` Sorry , you 've reached a page that does n't exist . '' Rekers , a Baptist minister , has been a prominent and effective foe of gay rights legislation across the country . He is a co-founder of the Family Research Council , one of Washington 's most powerful conservative Christian advocacy groups , and has weighed in on anti-gay rights legislation across the country . He received about $ 120,000 to appear as an expert witness in a 2008 case challenging Florida 's ban on gays and lesbians adopting . Rekers has written that gays are a `` deviant segment of society . '' Revelations of Rekers ' trip to Europe with a male escort surfaced last week , shortly after he returned to the U.S . The male escort who traveled with Rekers -- who goes by the name Lucien , though that is not his given name -- said that he advertises his service exclusively on the website rentboy.com , where visitors can choose from hundreds of male escorts in suggestive and revealing poses . Lucien says Rekers first contacted him through the site . He was hired to give Rekers daily `` sexual massages '' on the trip , which took them to London and Madrid , Lucien says . `` He got excited , '' Lucien said of the massages , adding that Rekers wanted Lucien to touch him , though Lucien said that he did n't have sex with Rekers and that Rekers did n't ask to have sex . According to a contract Lucien showed CNN , he was hired to carry Rekers ' bags and to provide at least one hour 's worth of massage every day in their shared room , at a cost of $ 75 a day . The contract also stipulated that Lucien spend at least eight hours a day with Rekers , including sharing two meals . Rekers ' website provided a different account of how he met Lucien and of the trip , saying he needed help carrying luggage because of an `` ongoing condition following surgery . '' The site said Rekers `` found his recent travel assistant by interviewing different people who might be able to help , and did not even find out about his travel assistant 's internet advertisements offering prostitution activity until after the trip was in progress . There was nothing inappropriate with this relationship . '' Rekers ' site said he `` was not involved in any illegal or sexual behavior with his travel assistant . '' Rekers is a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine , according to his website . He earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California , Los Angeles , an M.B.A. from Southern Wesleyan University and a Doctor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa , his site says . Lucien says Rekers told him about other boyfriends before the European trip . But Lucien says that in their ongoing conversations , Rekers continues to deny that he is gay . `` I actually asked him over the phone , 'Do you think you 're gay ? ' and he said , 'no ' , '' Lucien said , adding that Rekers asked him not to share his story with the media . In a statement on its website Tuesday , the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality said it stood by its work promoting therapy for gays who wish to be straight . `` ( T ) hese personal controversies do not change the scientific data , nor do they detract from the important work of NARTH , '' the statement said . `` NARTH continues to support scientific research , and to value client autonomy , client self-determination and client diversity . '' CNN 's Randi Kaye contributed to this report .
Anti - gay rights activist resigns from group that provides counseling for homosexuality . Baptist pastor John Rekers insists he is not gay . Rekers says he has hired lawyers to ' ` ` false news reports '' Rekers has been prominent , effective foe of gay rights legislation across country .