Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz was the guest of honor at a dinner held at the Central Park South penthouse of Mati Weiderpass and Ian Reisner – notable gay business partners. In addition to owning The OutNYC Hotel, they are said to control 80 percent of the commercial property on Fire Island. The soirée was allegedly arranged by Weiderpass, and Reisner was simply a guest. Although the pair generously contributes to LGBT charities and political groups, they’ve been vilified for having anything to do with Cruz, who has been an outspoken opponent of gay marriage (although, at the party, he did say, “If one of my daughters was gay, I would love them just as much.”).

Response to the controversy was swift, with many in the gay community calling for boycotts on their businesses – including ALL of Fire Island. The first casualty was the cancellation of a major fundraising event for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway Bares Solo Strips (a precursor to Broadway Bares) was slated to take place on May 10th at 42West (part of TheOutNYC). Tom Viola, BC/EFA‘s executive director, said, in part, “We cannot in good conscience hold an event at a venue whose owners have alienated our community.”