A man who survived the Pulse nightclub terror attack has claimed 'he is no longer gay' after joining a controversial Christian group promoting 'freedom from homosexuality'.

Luis Javier Ruiz was at the LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016, when 49 people were shot dead and 53 others wounded by 29-year-old Omar Mateen.

Ruiz now claims to have 'changed' and is promoting events 'celebrating freedom from homosexual/transgender lifestyles'.

Bizarre claim: Luis Javier Ruiz, who survived the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida in June 2016, now claims 'he is no longer gay' after joining a controversial Christian group

In a Facebook post showing images of himself with some of the victims of the Pulse shooting, and a photo of himself in hospital, Ruiz writes:

'I should of been of number 50 [sic].

'Going through old pictures of the night of Pulse, a memory were my struggles of perversion, heavy drinking to drown out everything and having promiscuous sex that led to HIV my struggles were real ! [sic]

'The enemy had its grip and now God has taken me from that moment and has given me Christ Jesus I'v grown to know his love in a deeper level.[sic]

'In this picture 2 of out of 49 my close friend on right and in back of me are no longer with us they lost there life that night. [sic]

Victims: Ruiz, pictured middle, writes that 'In this picture 2 of out of 49 my close friend on right and in back of me are no longer with us they lost there life that night' [sic]

Criticised: Ruiz's public support for the religious group promoting 'freedom from homosexuality' has been criticised on social media

'I should of been number 50 but now I have the chance to live in relationship and not religion not just loving christ but being in love with christ and sharing his love I know who I am and I am not defined with who the enemy says I use to be but who christ Jesus says I am. [sic]'

Ruiz published the rambling and misspelled post in support for a religious organisation called 'Voice of the Voiceless'.

The Christian group states on its website that its mission is 'to defend the rights of former homosexuals, individuals with unwanted same-sex attraction, and their families.'

His Facebook post stirred up heavy emotions, with many commenting that his words and his support of 'gay conversion therapy' was a 'slap in the face' of the Pulse victims.

Bruce Hart wrote: 'When you denounce your friends who lost their lives in this holocaust you dishonor their memory and their lives.

'HIV is not a punishment for being gay. The shooting wasn't your fault either. I pray you come to realize that God made you a perfect gay man from birth.'

Horrifying: A photo taken outside Pulse shortly after the shooting on June 12, 2016, shows survivors covered in blood

Aftermath: FBI agents investigate the damaged rear wall of the Pulse Nightclub where Omar Mateen allegedly killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida

Sarah O'Brien commented: 'This is a slap in the face to all of those who perished that night at Pulse.

'This is a slap in the face to all of us who frequented Pulse feeling safe to be open and free as apart of our own loving community, accepting ourselves and each other for who we are.

'Hopefully this is just your trauma speaking and not just you being a sellout because that would be quite pathetic and sad. '

Others criticised him for blaming his heavy-drinking lifestyle and choice to have unprotected sex on his sexuality.

Deavon Barnett wrote: 'I say do you and live you're life. If you feel as though this is better for you, then I said great, but please stop associating the action you take with homosexuality. I'm Gay and I don't have sex with strangers or do drugs.

Another person, branding Ruiz's statement as 'horrible' added: 'Your bad life decisions, have nothing to do with you being gay.'