A protest took place at The Out NYC Hotel on Monday, April 27 in response to a "fireside chat" the openly gay owners, Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass, had with anti-gay presidential candidate Ted Cruz last week.
Over 100 protesters gathered in front of the hotel's entrance on 42nd street and DNAinfo reporter Danielle Tcholakian documented the event through a series of Vines.
The protestors yelled "shame" at those patronizing the building and encouraged attendees to boycott other businesses owned by Reisner and Weiderpass. The two own 80% of the property on gay mecca Fire Island Pines.
Reisner and Weiderpass initially defended their meeting with Cruz following backlash from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. After organizations began canceling events at spaces owned by Reisner and Weiderpass, Reisner publicly apologized for his "poor judgement" on Facebook.
I am shaken to my bones by the e-mails, texts, postings and phone calls of the past few days. 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. 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.
Check out more of Tcholakian's Vines from the protest below.
(h/t Towleroad)
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