Ex-gay leader George Alan Rekers has denied he participated in “inappropriate behavior” with a 20-year-old gay escort while the pair vacationed in Europe.

“A recent article in an alternative newspaper cleverly gave false impressions of inappropriate behavior because of its misleading innuendo, incorrectly implying that Professor George Rekers used the Rentboy website to hire a prostitute to accompany him on a recent trip,” a post on Rekers' blog ProfessorGeorge.com says.

According to the Miami New Times, Rekers of North Miami hired the escort to accompany him on a 10-day European vacation. Rekers found the escort – named Lucien but not his real name – on gay escort website RentBoy.com. When confronted with the allegation, Rekers told the paper that he hired Lucien because “I can't lift luggage.” While both men deny having sex on the trip, Lucien said Rekers “likes younger guys to hang out with.”

Rekers, a Baptist minister, is a founder of the socially conservative Family Research Council headed by Tony Perkins and a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), a group that believes gay men and lesbians can – and should – alter their sexuality. He was also called to testify as an expert witness in favor of gay adoption bans in Arkansas and Florida.

Rekers has authored numerous books on sexuality, including Growing Up Straight: What Families Should Know About Homosexuality and Your Child's Sexual Identity.

In a Facebook posting, Rekers elaborated on his denial, saying he hired Lucien to “share the Good News of Jesus Christ” with him.

“Contrary to false gossip, innuendo, and slander about me, I do not in any way 'hate' homosexuals, but I seek to lovingly share two types of messages to them, as I did with the young man called 'Lucien' in the news story.”

The two messages, Rekers says in a response to gay blogger Joe My God, are: “It is possible to cease homosexual practices to avoid the unacceptable health risks associated with that behavior” and “the most important decision one can make is to establish a relationship with God for all eternity by trusting in Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, including homosexual sins.”

The story prompted gay advocates to ask for Rekers resignation from the ex-gay group NARTH.

“Given the sordid and tawdry facts, he should immediate step down from NARTH's board and apologize to the LGBT community for his extreme hypocrisy and self-loathing,” said Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit group that advocates against ex-gay ministries.

“As of today, his entire body of work on LGBT issues in rendered meaningless,” he added.