It would seem that Ian Reisner has finally been thinking seriously about PR since news broke that he and business partner Mati Weiderpass hosted a “fireside chat” with vehemently antigay Senator and Republican Presidential candidate clown car occupant Ted Cruz at their Central Park penthouse last month.
Reisner, who has previously called the meeting a “terrible mistake” while also railing against the gay community for being “cheap” and “entitled,” has now issued a formal apology in the form of a (carefully crafted) letter to the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA) where he is a major investor. It’s interesting that his most heartfelt apology is directed towards a bunch of fellow rich gays, but the sentiment seems right.
In the letter, he again asks for forgiveness and pledges a strengthened commitment to gay causes, backed up with his wallet.
Here is the letter that was read aloud by president of FIPPOA Jay Pagano at a recent meeting, which was reportedly met with applause and approval:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Dear Members of our Community,
First I want to clear up that Mati Weiderpass has zero involvement or ownership in the Pines.
Now let me state unequivocally that I made mistakes. While my initial intention was bi-partisan dialogue about National & Israeli security, I’ve come to learn that intentions and outcomes are different things. The outcomes of my actions are that I’ve deeply hurt our community – and I am truly sorry.
In order to help build a stronger community I am taking the following steps:
– I am renewing and redoubling my commitment as an ardent supporter of LGBT causes.
– I will continue to invest my resources in the Pines, its cultural programs and activities that celebrate the diversity and acceptance of its community members, so that it always holds its rightful place in LGBT history.
– To this end, today I made a donation to the ‘FIPPOA-PAC’ — matching All funds raised in its last active year — which supports politicians committed to the Pines and to LGBT issues.
– More so, I will be donating profits from my Pines Investment this summer to the following organizations that I have supported in the past: The LGBT Community Center in NYC & The Jerusalem Open House, as well as to ‘Equality Texas’ which fights for LGBT rights on one of this countries more challenging fronts.
– Further, I am in the process of hiring a Director of Community Affairs to serve as a liaison with various LGBT organizations and to guide me in better serving our community.
– Lastly, I commit to meeting and consulting with community & organizational leaders, to hear their concerns and their ideas so that we can all work together for a better Pines and a stronger LGBT community.
Please accept these preliminary steps as assurance of my commitment to getting this right and to becoming the community member you deserve.”
Is it time to finally move on from this one?
chstennis54
More flips and flops than a sandal store.
Tom Belkowski
A friend of mine used to quote her father, who had a philosophy: “If a problem can be resolved with money, then it is not a problem.” Unfortunately, I don’t see that this issue is so easily resolved with money… Only time can help to identify where his true loyalty lies…
Rob Bullock
Maybe he should try to make amends for the hateful statements and generalizations he made about the community who has supported him for so long. Sorry, Ian, but you cannot buy your way out of the doghouse that easily.
pjm1
You know he has his PR people on this b/c the two dogs in the photo make
Reisner instantly more likable. For his next photo i suggest 5 dogs, the two he has,
a french & english bulldog & a pug (all rescues). Then all should be forgiven.
Mykaels
He did apologize at first, but the witch hunt grew more louder, then he became defensive, the witch hunt had more fuel for its fire, now he is apologizing again.
Since an apology will not work for the gay community, and donating money to gay causes also wont work, maybe the gay community would like to offer suggestions as to what WOULD work, so this silliness can end.
Kyle Gunning
I think he’s finally making a step in the right direction. We can’t forget what happened, but it might be time to let him continue to make up for it and cautiously move on. Weiderpass, however, is a snake.
David Bolton
@chstennis54: Dammit, you took my joke.
Mack
On top of the apology, renounce Cruz, then maybe.
AtticusBennett
@Mack: EXACTLY!!!!
Cam
@Mykaels: said… “He did apologize at first, but the witch hunt grew more louder, then he became defensive, the witch hunt had more fuel for its fire, now he is apologizing again.”
_____________________________
You’re a liar, he at first attacked the gay community, next he lied and said he did not know what Ted Cruz’s position on gay issues were, then he tried to apologize finally but called gays cheap and entitled.
Now, weeks later, after his businesses have been hurt, he finally publicly releases an apology that was obviously crafted by somebody else, that is apologizing to other property owners in Fire Island.
The fact that you have to lie to create your point, shows that not only is your point false, but that you are simply another troll in here to defend this sad excuse for a little man.
enlightenone
“…Is it time to finally move on from this one?”
I have! “Closets” were invented for douchebags like you and your lover. The two of you get in there and shut your mouths! Oh, and take your teabagger money with you.
jwtraveler
@Mykaels: The rich, white guys who are the FIPPOA are NOT the gay community, if there even is a gay community. Donating $20,000 and apologizing to them will not help one needy gay person. This guy is a rich, selfish, self-serving opportunist. Whatever he does, he does it for his own benefit.
Frankly I don’t care what he says or does.
Bob LaBlah
People, the Fire Island crowd are the ones most likely to marry and settle down. Six figure incomes are more or less the norm for them and they are less likely to “protest”. It was a move only the blind could not see thru. And in the gay community, especially this time of year, the majority are blind to anything that does not involve buns, abs, biceps and Andrew Christian swim wear.
Xzamilio
Whatever… this is a non-story at this point. His image is ruined, blah, blah, blah… still fucked in Uganda, Nigeria, and Russia for LGBT people… you know, the people American gays only care about when it fits a narrative?
Blazipitous
What a weak, weak, weak man. A fucking lousy excuse for a man. If people on the Internet can shake you, then you deserve to fall. You did nothing wrong, you idiot. You made money and there’s nothing to be apologetic about. Fucking stupid!
John DeGregory
Keep working on making amends
Brent Wilson
Not enough
Brent Wilson
Take his gay card away, already
Dan Bernard
So basically he apologized with a bunch of promises and a $20,000 donation to his HOA, of which he is already a member and major investor. How is this an apology? How does this compensate Broadway Bares, or the Gay Mens Chorus for the profit they lost as they cancelled their association with him?
Giancarlo85
@Mykaels: You are a total liar. Reisner is the one that viciously slandered the gay community and he got backlash. He also supported an extremist politician.
You right wingers are all the same… you adopt the victim mentality when you are losing.
Robert Walsh
They should turn back his money if they have respect for themselves and other gays.
Cam
@Xzamilio: said… “Whatever… this is a non-story at this point. His image is ruined, blah, blah, blah… still fucked in Uganda, Nigeria, and Russia for LGBT people… you know, the people American gays only care about when it fits a narrative?”
_____________________________
Oh, look at you parroting the right wing politicians talking points. Ted Cruz said that gays shouldn’t be worried about rights or marriage because they hang gays in Iran.
So by your logic, nobody should fight for civil rights if things are worse in another place in the world. Because, you know, it would be stupid to worry about the country you actually live and vote in wouldn’t it?
Ian Reisner donated and supported directly, a person advocating the stripping away of gay rights in this country.
Bauhaus
@Cam:
“Ted Cruz said that gays shouldn’t be worried about rights or marriage because they hang gays in Iran.”
It’s like saying to women here: stop complaining; you’ve got it great. Women prohibited from driving, leaving their homes without a male chaperone, being stoned to death (for whatever offense, real or imagined), forced to cover from head to toe, should be a reminder of how great things are for women in this country. Stop griping and expecting equal (same as straight men) treatment; it could be so much worse!
Giancarlo85
I really hate that stupid line of thought right wingers use to justify their discrimination. They practically wish gays were treated the same in the US as they were treated in Uganda. Uganda is the right wing’s ideal country. A right wing dictatorship, gays jailed or executed, and an economy in the dumps.
Xzamilio
@Cam: Dude, you got the wrong one trying to get uppity with me with that bullshit. What exactly is my “logic” based on one comment? You mean the logic you’re trying to read into what I said because you need to get on your internet soapbox and feel important? You are the kind of fucking liberals that make me sick and make me want to move away from the liberal label — but I won’t — because you think you can control the way others think and create some straw man to go all left-loony. Who the fuck cares about this dude? What has he taken from the gay community? What civil rights has he taken from us? The dude is a moron who has ruined his image beyond repair, but don’t tell me that this is still a story because it isn’t.
I’ll be damned if some asswipe tries to put words in my mouth. Fuck you.
Xzamilio
@Cam: And I stand by every fucking word I said. You don’t like it, then you don’t like it. Hell, I’m here in Texas where gay marriage is still illegal, but I can still walk and chew gum at the same time, meaning I will continue to lobby for gay marriage here while remembering that my life is multitudes better than individuals in other countries like RUSSIA, UGANDA, and NIGERIA, so excuse the fuck out of me for not giving a shit about yet another gay conservative republican voting against his/her self interests. And America DOES report on these stories when it fits a narrative… has anything changed in Russia since the Olympics? Don’t hear anything about Russia anymore.
Xzamilio
Man, I can’t stand some of these pissy ass gay dudes on this site… can’t even argue someone’s comment without resorting to the usual ad-hominem rectum-derived garbage.
“You sound like a republican… you’re saying not to care about gay rights here because at least we’re not being killed like in the Middle East… you don’t care about self-hating republicans donating to anti-gay politicians because you support terrorism.”
Suck a dick. It’s good for you:
http://shallowvoices.blogspot.com/2015/03/10-reasons-to-suck-dick-more.html
notevenwrong
You know he’s still going to vote for the Republican. Rich and white doesn’t cure mean and stupid.
Bauhaus
@Xzamilio:
“Hell, I’m here in Texas where gay marriage is still illegal, but I can still walk and chew gum at the same time, meaning…”
… meaning you are a second class citizen. You live in a state where there is never EVER going to be recognition of SSM, no matter how much you “lobby”, and that is because of cretins like Cruz, who run that shit hole. Cruz isn’t voting against HIS self-interest, he’s voting against YOURS!
Xzamilio
@Bauhaus: A. Not talking about Cruz, you fucking moron… talking about Reisner. B. I finished my damn statement so ONCE AGAIN need to read into what I said when what I fucking said is there in black and white!!
Kangol
Who doesn’t see through this rich, r@cist bysh’s PR campaign?
You hop in the bed with right-wing homophobes like Ted Cruz and you pay the price.
BYE, FELICIA REISNER!
Xzamilio
@Bauhaus: I am a goddamn liberal Independent meaning I don’t buy the bullshit from Democrats OR Republicans, but I don’t foam at the mouth over every damn story about self-hating gays or backwards ass Republicans, especially over a story this damn stupid. Reisner is going to remain a conservative Republican, and will continue voting right-wing… you’re not changing a damn thing, but at least I’m moving beyond the computer and not being some hashtag SJW as if that is going to accomplish anything. I am done with this fucking story.
JaredMacBride
It’s all talk. Let’s see if it’s followed up by any action.
Bauhaus
@Xzamilio:
Oops, I missed one of your posts. You write like crap, though. Try working on that.
Theonewhoismany
I think I loathe Reisner even more after reading this “contrition”. it is also very illuminating that his talk is now based on ‘national security’ concerns. This all adds up to nothing but bourgeois politics and economics. Revolting.
Will Glitzern
It just seems kind of flip-floppy. Maybe he’s practicing for a political run.
mcflyer54
Sounds more like an effort to recover lost business than a sincere apology. Maybe the cheap entitled gays have chosen to spend their money elsewhere,
DistingueTraces
Good god how does someone this wealthy involved in politics have NO ONE managing what messages his organization sends out to the media?
Did he really publically reverse himself twice in a couple of weeks? He now sounds less like a cynic than just confused.
Cam
@Xzamilio:
You had to make three rambling posts to try to deflect from my comment. The fact is, you tried to use the typical right wing language to pretend that issues such as donating to anti-gay politicians don’t matter, and I called you out on the absurdity of your point. You merely parroted the lines of people like Cruz.
Now you can write 6 new posts screaming about f*****g liberals and hoping that the more words you type, the more people will forget what a sad, pathetic attempt to defend this guy you just made.
Alexis Barros
Giancarlo85
@Theonewhoismany: Funny thing is republicans have a long history of being shit for the economy and for “national security”. A vast majority of terrorist attacks happen under republicans and many Americans also die under republican administrations. Republicans have a long history of death and destruction. This legacy dates back to Richard Nixon.
And when stupid gay republicans/libertarians say “I vote for republicans because they understand the economy better”… I just laugh. Is that why most job growth and most economic growth occurs under democrats by a 2-1 margin? The last three republican presidencies ended up in recessions/screwing the economy.
Xzamilio, learn proper sentence structure please. Nobody understands a word you are saying. The more you bash on liberals the more you show your true colors. You’re no independent.
o.codone
all this ^ from a community who voted for a president who said that marriage is between a man and a woman. … hyp-o-crites.