Two real estate developers who own a string of LGBT-focused NYC properties are now apologizing for hosting a fundraiser for the very anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz.
Amid a growing backlash of boycotts, and verbal chastising, Ian Reisner (image, holding scissors, center left) and Mati Weiderpass (image, holding scissors, center right) were forced to switch gears and issue apologies for hosting a fundraising dinner for Senator Ted Cruz last Monday (top image). The two real estate developers own gay-focused properties such as The OUT NYC gay hotel and about three-quarters of the real estate in the Fire Island Pines.
They insist the event was not a “fundraiser,” although the anti-gay Tea Party Republican Senator was in town attending several fundraising events that evening, and reports state dinner with Cruz can cost up to a half-million dollars. Days later, Sen. Cruz filed two bills to halt same-sex marriage, including one that would make banning same-sex marriage constitutional. Cruz used the news of the event to falsely claim it made him a “big tent Republican.”
On Friday Reisner and Weiderpass issued a press release supporting and defending their Ted Cruz meeting. “No topic was left off the table during their meeting with Senator Cruz, including his opinions on gay marriage, protection for the state of Israel and national security,” they stated.
But it was soon clear that tactic was not working, and the pair took to Facebook.
“I am shaken to my bones by the e-mails, texts, postings and phone calls of the past few days,” Reisner posted to Facebook Sunday night. “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.”
Reisner, who also hosted a fundraiser for conservative Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson earlier this month, claimed, “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.”
Sen. Johnson, who voted against the repeal of DADT and more recently against re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act, until last year was actively opposed to same-sex marriage. He now says he would not oppose it if voters support it.
Mati Weiderpass, Reisner’s business partner and fellow co-founder of Parkview Developers, also issued an apology Sunday night.
“I share in Ian’s remorse. I, too, lay humbled with what has happened in the last week,” he wrote on Facebook. “I made a terrible mistake. Unfortunately, I cannot undo this. You taught me a painful but important lesson. The people that know me know the work that I have done over the last 20 years for the advancement of gay rights. Today, I came to realize that I might have nullified my past efforts and accomplishments in just one week. On the eve of this momentous legal occasion at the Supreme Court, I dedicate myself to work even harder to advance our cause that I share with the LGBT community; our community. Again, to all that I have hurt, please accept my sincerest apologies.”
Meanwhile, several events scheduled for Weiderpass and Reisner’s properties have been canceled in a growing boycott of men’s businesses. The decades-old Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS non-profit, which annually raises million of dollars, was the first to cancel an event. Second was the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. There is also a Boycott Fire Island Pines Establishments & Out NYC Hotel group on Facebook.
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Image, top, via Facebook