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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in 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.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 3, 2025
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - TikTok on the hook, DEI dumped, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Organic wines that won't cost the Earth
The Week Recommends From a 'zippy' muscadet to a 'dangerously drinkable' malbec
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Can the UK avoid the Trump tariff bombshell?
Today's Big Question President says UK is 'way out of line' but it may still escape worst of US trade levies
By The Week UK Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published