Did Anti-Gay Homophobe "Rent" A "Boy" for Vacation Travel?

The Miami New Times, an affiliate of the Village Voice, reports that George Alan Rekers, an anti-gay Emeritus Professor at the University of South Carolina, recently traveled to Europe with a male prostitute as his companion.  According to the Miami New Times, Rekers connected with his travel companion through the website "Rent Boy," which prominently features explicit advertisements for gay male escorts.

Normally, I would not deem this story newsworthy.  It does involve the "oldest profession."  But Rekers is one of the most prominent anti-gay advocates in the nation.  Rekers is an officer of NARTH -- the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.  NARTH advocates "conversion therapy" for LGBT individuals, pitting the group against the vast majority of mental health professionals who conclude that being gay or lesbian is not a product of mental illness.

Rekers has also testified against gay and lesbian plaintiffs who filed lawsuits challenging state bans on gay adoptions. Rekers believes that gay and lesbian parents are unfit.

Rekers was also a founding member of FRC -- the Family Research Council. FRC is a rightwing advocacy group that vehemently opposes gay rights.  The group's homepage contains articles blasting efforts to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and to pass ENDA -- the Employee Non-Discrimination Act.  ENDA would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Rekers' "excuses" are very intriguing -- and comical. He said he did not discover that his companion was a male escort until the middle of the trip -- although he did not deny meeting him on Rent Boy, an explicit site for male prostitution.  He also claims that he hired the escort to help him carry his luggage.

Absolutely decadent.

Update: Well, this is all too predictable. According to the blog Joe My God, Rekers says he took the young hustler to Europe in order to teach him the Gospel of Jesus!