Gay hotel owner apologises for hosting anti-gay Republican Ted Cruz
A gay hotel owner has apologised for hosting an event for Republican Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz – who has a terrible record on gay rights.
The Texas Senator pledged to “uphold the sacrament of marriage” when announcing his run for President last month – but recently attended a fundraising event hosted by Mati Weiderpass and Ian Reisner, owners of ‘gay friendly’ hotel Out NYC.
The event came as Cruz launched a desperate attempt to halt same-sex weddings, filing two bills that would attempt to nullify an expected Supreme Court ruling in favour of equal marriage in all 50 states.
After losing a number of corporate bookings for hosting Mr Cruz’s event, the hotel owners have apologised for supporting the politician.
Ian Reisner wrote on Facebook: “I am shaken to my bones by the e-mails, texts, postings and phone calls of the past few days. I made a terrible mistake.
“I was ignorant, naive and much too quick in accepting a request to co-host a dinner with Cruz at my home without taking the time to completely understand all of his positions on gay rights.
“I’ve spent the past 24 hours reviewing videos of Cruz’ statements on gay marriage and I am shocked and angry. I sincerely apologize for hurting the gay community and so many of our friends, family, allies, customers and employees.
“I will try my best to make up for my poor judgement. Again, I am deeply sorry.”
Mr Cruz was picked as top choice for President last year by attendees at the anti-gay Values Voter Summit – which is run by a group that regularly compares gay rights to the holocaust.
Other rumoured contenders for the Republican nomination include Dr Ben Carson – who damaged his chances by claiming prisons prove being gay is a choice – and Jeb Bush, who has recently hired an anti-gay activist to work on his campaign team.
Launching his campaign, Cruz pledged: “Instead of a federal government that works to undermine our values, imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life, and to uphold the sacrament of marriage.”
