In September 2000, Besen photographed ex-gay activist John Paulk, then Chairman of Exodus International, in a Washington D.C. gay bar called Mr. P's. Paulk said he was simply there to use the washroom, but Besen and other witnesses allege he was drinking and flirting for over 20 minutes. Besen went public with the story, and wrote about it in his book "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth". The book was nominated for two Lambda Literary Awards in 2003.