Two gay men who own vacation properties that cater to the LGBT community are in trouble because they hosted a non-fundraising reception for Ted Cruz at their home last week.

Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass have become the target of the shaming brigades as gay activists are all over social media criticizing the couple's "betrayal."

Mediaite:

During that meeting, they mainly discussed foreign policy, while alluding to a possible shift (or private opinion) in Cruz’s thoughts about gay marriage. Nevertheless, the fact that they held a reception (not a fundraiser) for Cruz, a staunch opponent to same-sex marriage, was enough to tick off the gay community.

Within hours, a Facebook page calling for the boycott of the Fire Island Pines Establishments and the Out NYC Hotel, all owned by Reisner and Weiderpass, gained more than 2,500 followers, its wall filled with angry messages blasting the two for selling out their ideals.

“Weiderpass, an out gay man, held a ‘reception’ this past weekend for Senator Cruz,” said the first post on the page. “The question, among so many others, is, WHY???!!!”

“It was arranged to help Cruz get major donors to his campaign,” wrote another. “Claiming it was anything else is pure bull***t. Pure. Bull***t.”

Reiser and Weiderpass were forced to defend their party on Facebook, with Reisner pointing out that he’d hosted a Ready for Hillary fundraiser at Out NYC. “Senator Ted Cruz and I disagree strongly on the issue of gay marriage, but having an open dialogue with those who have differing political opinions is a part of what this country was founded on,” he argued.

“I have been a major supporter of gay causes and gay charities for two decades. People on both sides of the aisle need to be able to communicate with one another even when they ideologically disagree,” Weiderpass wrote, pointing to his past work in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. “The fact that Senator Cruz accepted the invitation to my home was a step in the right direction towards him having a better understanding of who I am and what I believe in.” He subsequently took that post private.

Late last night, Cruz reiterated that he was still very much anti-gay marriage, arguing that it was just a talk with some gay people, guys.

Reisner's noble sentiments about communicating with a political opponent are lost on both sides of this debate.  No one is interested in dialogue.  Showing any respect toward those who disagree with your position on gay marriage is akin to betrayal, and the perpetrator must be destroyed.

Reisner and Weiderpass are billionaires several times over, and it would take a lot more than a few canceled hotel reservations to hurt them.  But it's clear that the LGBT activists are warning their supporters to hate all their political opponents as much as they do, or suffer the consequences.