Gay businessman apologizes for hosting Ted Cruz reception

One of the two gay hoteliers who hosted an event for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) last week in New York City said it was a "terrible mistake," and he has since educated himself on Cruz's stance against gay marriage.

On his Facebook page Sunday, Ian Reisner, who owns the OUT NYC hotel, said he 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." He apologized to "the gay community and so many of our friends, family, allies, customers and employees," and pledged to "try my best to make up for my poor judgement." He made the apology one day before a planned march outside of OUT NYC, and after the Broadway Cares charity canceled its annual event at a nightclub Reisner co-owns.

Along with his business partner Mati Weiderpass, Reisner held the dinner reception for Cruz on Monday at the duplex they own on Manhattan's Central Park South. It was billed as a "fireside chat" for about 12 people, and was not a fundraiser, The New York Times reports. Reisner, Weiderpass, and Cruz are all staunch supporters of Israel, and after the event, Reisner told the Times, "Ted Cruz was on point on every issue that has to do with national security."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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