WASHINGTON -- Ian Reisner, a gay businessman who hosted an event for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in New York this week, apologized on Sunday after furious backlash from the gay community. Reisner and his longtime partner Mati Weiderpass hosted a "fireside chat" with the presidential candidate, who reportedly softened his notoriously anti-gay tone at the event by claiming that, if one of his daughters were gay, "I would love them just as much.” News of Cruz's appearance prompted a boycott of the two men's businesses. In a statement posted to his Facebook page on Sunday, Reisner sought forgiveness for his "poor judgement," explaining that he did not do his homework on Cruz's record on marriage equality before agreeing to host the event. "I am shaken to my bones by the e-mails, texts, postings and phone calls of the past few days.