Tag: Mati Weiderpass

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NYC Gay Hoteliers Hold Fund-Raiser For Another Anti-Gay Senator

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and hotelier Ian Reisner

The gay hoteliers who raised money for anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz are at it again, only this time Ian Reisner held a NYC event for anti-gay Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.

Via GayCityNews:

A host and guests at a fundraiser held by embattled real estate developers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass at their Central Park South penthouse donated at least $10,600 to Republican Ron Johnson, a right-wing US senator from Wisconsin who faces a 2016 challenge from Democrat Russ Feingold.

Reisner, who is gay, gave Johnson $2,700, the maximum allowed under federal election law. Reisner, who has otherwise largely supported Democrats, gave $2,700 to Hillary Clinton on June 15.

The hosts and the guests were supporting Johnson because of the senator’s support for Israel and his views on the Middle East, according to the press release, which described those in attendance as “a bipartisan group of Jewish business leaders –– both committed Republicans and several traditionally aligned with Democrats.”

The Out NYC and Reisner’s properties in the Pines on Fire Island came under boycott after the New York Times reported that he held an April 20 fundraiser for Republican Ted Cruz, a Texas senator and candidate for the Republican nomination for president. (This reporter has supported the boycott and played a role in organizing it.) The community objected to Reisner and Weiderpass taking money from their LGBT customers and giving it to anti-LGBT right-wingers.

After it was revealed that Reisner donated the personal maximum of $2,700 to Cruz after the April meeting (after previously saying “no funds were raised” at the dinner meeting), Reisner requested and received a refund from the Cruz campaign.

The Human Rights Campaign gives Johnson a zero ranking out of a possible 100 in the 113th Congress and a 15 out of a possible 100 in the 112th Congress. Johnson opposes same-sex marriage and voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which would bar workplace discrimination.

Russ Feingold, Johnson’s opponent, who served 18 years in the U.S. Senate, had rankings from HRC in the high 80s/low 90s during his final six years in office.

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Ian Reisner & Mati Weiderpass Hit With Discrimination Lawsuit By Hotel Employees

More bad news for openly gay New York City hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass as the Advocate reports they are being sued by former employees of their NYC hotel – The Out NYC.

The suit, alleging discrimination and withheld pay, is on behalf of specific plaintiffs and “all others similarly-situated.”

The allegations by James Stress, Paul Shreve, Donald Shorter, and Jonathan Taylor are twofold. All four employees named in the suit claim KTCHN and XL failed to pay for overtime work and withheld part of their tips, resulting in violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as well as New York City and state law. Shorter and Stress also allege discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity — by establishments that are owned by and cater to LGBT people.

Reisner and Weiderpass have been under a media blitz and boycott by many in the LGBT community due to hosting a “fireside chat” with virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz, currently running for the GOP nod for president in 2016.

Most recently, it came to light that although both men told the press on more than one occasion that the “chat” was NOT a fundraiser and “no checks were given,” it seems Reisner actually did write a “max-check” of $2,700 to the Cruz campaign around the time of the event. He later went back to the campaign asking that his check be refunded.

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Gay Hotelier Ian Reisner Lied Regarding Making Campaign Contribution To Sen. Ted Cruz

Quisling NYC businessman Ian Reisner

Boys, boys, boys. You’ve GOT to get your act together and your stories straight.

For weeks gay NYC hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass have been in trouble with the NYC LGBT community because they held a “fireside chat” with virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz last month.

Initially, the two men were “surprised” by the uproar saying they didn’t really understand the degree to which Cruz opposes LGBT rights. And they stressed that the evening was not a fundraiser of any kind.

“There were no checks given, it was nothing like that,” Reisner told New York magazine.

Next, came the community boycott of their businesses including the niche hotel The Out NYC, followed by a full-on “apology tour” stressing that they will work hard to regain the gays’ trust.

That lasted a couple of days until Weiderpass published an attack on the LGBT community including one passage calling the gays “cheap.” Now there’s damage control for you.

“It is amazing that my businesses are being boycotted by some because I hosted a discussion with an elected official. Not a fundraiser. Not an endorsement. A dialogue,” wrote Weiderpass in an op-ed for The New York Observer. “Despite media reports to the contrary, I did not organize the Cruz dinner, but did embrace the opportunity—again, in a non-fundraising setting—to discuss a number of important issues, including support for Israel and support for gay rights.”

Well, the proverbial “other shoe” dropped today as the New York Times reports that Reisner actually DID write a check to Cruz’s campaign – for the maximum amount of $2,700.

It was only AFTER the scandal escalated that Reisner apparently asked for his check back – probably because the donation would should up on Mr. Cruz’s campaign finance filing when it becomes public in July.

“In the interest of transparency, I gave Senator Cruz a $2,700 check to show my support for his work on behalf of Israel,” Mr. Reisner said in a statement he provided after The Times learned of the donation from two people with direct knowledge of it. “When I realized his donation could be misconstrued as supporting his anti-gay marriage agenda, I asked for the money back. Senator Cruz’s office gave the money back, and I have no intention of giving any money to any politicians who aren’t in support of L.G.B.T. issues.”

Bolding is mine.

Umm, yes Mr. Reisner, contributing to a politician’s campaign is generally seen as supporting their positions. Unless you inherited all your money, there’s no way you could be a successful businessman and not understand such rudimentary concepts.

It just keeps getting worse for these guys.

Interestingly, when asked about the $2,700 check, Reisner’s buddy Weiderpass seemed “surprised” to learn about the donation as he attended an event last night at New York’s Marriott Marquis hotel.

And guess who also just happened to attend last night’s event?

Yes – Sen. Ted Cruz.

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Armistead Maupin Weighs In On Gay Hoteliers Debacle

Writing on his Facebook page today, legendary gay author Armistead Maupin had this to say about the ongoing scandal/boycott of NYC gay hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass:

“I’m the only gay man I know who has never been to Fire Island. I have not made a point of staying away — its charms are legendary, of course — but the occasion has simply never presented itself.

“Now, it’s quite likely that I will remain forever virginal in that regard. Or at least until these guys are no longer collecting money at the dock. When I coined the term “A-gay” forty years ago, these were just the sort of creeps I had in mind. It was never intended as something to aspire to.”

The post was in response to a less than flattering profile in the New York Times about the two men and the scandal surrounding them.