“At the end of the day, what we should not be doing is persecuting people who follow their faith”, the Texas Republican said.
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ABC News said that Ted Cruz didn’t know he was talking to LGBT advocate Ellen Page, who really tried to remain anonymous by wearing a bull cap, dark sunglasses and backpack. “Well, you think people wouldn’t use that argument in segregation?” Getty Actress Ellen Page arrives at the premiere showing of IFC Midnight’s “Super” at the Egyptian Theatre “Now I’m pleased to answer your question, yet not to have a back-and-forth debate“, Cruz replied.
The Texas senator, 44, went on to argue today that “no one has the right to force someone else to abandon their faith and their conscience”.
“I would say they should provide flowers”, Page can be heard responding.
Cruz discussed people choosing to not serve gay customers, like the Odgaards, and said that it’s religious persecution if they are forced to do so – like making a Jewish rabbi perform a Catholic ceremony.
This isn’t the first time Page has publicly disagreed with Cruz on his political platforms. The encounter was filmed by ABC News.
The Human Rights Campaign blasted Cruz later Friday for claiming that business owners were facing discrimination by being asked to serve all customers – including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers – equally.
The debate remained polite with Page beginning by acknowledging that people had used “religious liberty” arguments when opposing racial integration in America’s earlier generations.
The Juno star points to Christian violence in Jamaica against gays and Cruz points out the moral equivalency between the two and how alarming the execution of gays should be.
Cruz: “Well, great, then we’re agreed on that.”
Cruz also criticized progressive activists or what he said was being silent as Iran and the Islamic State of Iraq & Syria executing people suspected of being gay.
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Page: “I don’t know, I would love to speak with Obama about it.”
