A high profile gay rights activist and Democrat fundraiser has been charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy with his boyfriend.

Terry Bean, 66, co-founded two of the biggest national campaign groups and raised more than $500,000 for Barack Obama's 2012 re-election bid.

He was arrested at his home in southwest Portland on Wednesday and indicted with two counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of third-degree sex abuse.

Charged: Terry Bean, a prominent gay rights activist who raised $500,000 for Obama, has been charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy with his boyfriend in a hotel last year

Defense: Bean's lawyer claims he is the victim of an 'extortion ring' to ruin his reputation

Bean's lawyers insist he is the victim of an 'extortion ring', which they claim involves several men 'known to law enforcement'.

The alleged incident involved a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old boy in 2013 in Eugene, Oregon, police said.

His ex-boyfriend, Kiah Loy Lawson, 25, was also arrested and charged, according to USA Today.

Bean is a revered character among the gay rights activist community and with the Democratic Party, Oregon Live reports.

He helped to form the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay And Lesbian Victory Fund.

The trained broker was forced to defend himself earlier this year after his co-accused, Lawson, revealed Bean secretly filmed their sexual encounters.

However, his lawyer Kristin Winemiller has lambasted claims he abused a teenage boy.

Co-accused: Kiah Loy Lawson, who is also charged, last year accused Bean of secretly filming their sex

Winemiller released this statement: 'Terry Bean is a highly respected community leader who has devoted his life to bettering our community.

'Over the course of several months in 2013-2014 Terry was the victim of an extortion ring led by several men known to law enforcement.

'This current arrest is connected to the ongoing investigation of that case in which Mr Bean has fully cooperated.

'No allegations against Terry Bean should be taken at face value.

'We look forward to the opportunity to clear his name.'