David Matheson, who came into prominence over the years for his work as a “conversion therapist,” announced this week that he has chosen to “pursue life as a gay man.”

“A year ago I realized I had to make substantial changes in my life. I realized I couldn’t stay in my marriage any longer. And I realized that it was time for me to affirm myself as gay,” Matheson, who was married to a woman for more than 30 years, said in a Facebook post.

According to NBC News, Matheson’s work on gay conversion therapy, a debunked practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation, spans decades. He was also reportedly an early protégé of Joseph Nicolosi, who previously founded the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.

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“I know my work helped many, many people because they’ve told me so. But I’m sure I’ve hurt some people too,” Matheson continued. “Not that I would excuse myself, but any shortcomings I had as a therapist came from too narrow a view of what ‘emotionally healthy’ can look like. They came from my own homophobia and narrow mindedness.”

However, Matheson did not denounce his past involvement with the conversion therapy movement or condemn what he referred to as “mixed-orientation marriages” in a statement obtained by NBC News.

“I continue to support the rights of individuals to choose how they will respond to their sexual attractions and identity,” Matheson said in the statement. “With that freedom, I am now choosing to pursue life as a gay man.”

“I know there are people who won’t be satisfied by anything less than a complete and unequivocal renunciation of everything,” Matheson added. “That’s hard, because I want people to feel the genuineness of my change of heart, but people need to understand that there is more than one reality in the world.”

Matheson did add, however, that he “unequivocally” apologizes to those who felt harmed by his previous work.

The news comes the same week the New York legislature voted to ban conversion therapy, the latest state to do so.

Conversion therapy has long been condemned by medical and mental health experts who say the practice is ineffective and can lead to lasting psychological harm.