Ted Cruz reportedly said nice things about gay people at private chat with gay businessmen


Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) skipped Thursday's confirmation vote for Attorney General Loretta Lynch because he had to fly back to Texas for a fundraiser, according to a spokeswoman for his presidential campaign. But his dinner reception on Monday night, at a penthouse on Manhattan's Central Park South owned by hoteliers Mati Weiderpass and Ian Reisner, was ostensibly about foreign policy.
Weiderpass and Reisner, both gay, are business partners and onetime romantic partners — and they, like Cruz, are also vocal supporters of Israel. "Ted Cruz was on point on every issue that has to do with national security," Reisner told The New York Times, after Weiderpass posted photos from the gathering on Facebook late Wednesday. Cruz didn't mention his opposition to same-sex marriage, Reisner added, but he "said, 'If one of my daughters was gay, I would love them just as much.'" He also mentioned a gay friend, libertarian investor Peter Thiel.
The Times asked Reisner about hosting a staunch opponent of gay marriage, when he himself is a staunch supporter, and the businessman said he didn't agree about Cruz on social issues and that the senator's views weren't that important. Same-sex marriage "is done," Reisner said. "It's just going to happen."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
June 25 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons include war on a loop, the New York City mayoral race, and one almighty F-bomb
-
How generative AI is changing the way we write and speak
In The Spotlight ChatGPT and other large language model tools are quietly influencing which words we use
-
How long can Nato keep Donald Trump happy?
Today's Big Question Military alliance pulls out all the stops to woo US president on his peacemaker victory lap
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores