Ellen Page confronts Ted Cruz about LGBT issues at state fair

In an exchange filmed by ABC News, Ellen Page grilled Republican US senator Ted Cruz at a state fair in Des Moines, Iowa yesterday.

The out actress wanted to talk about LGBT rights with the presidential candidate, who was stood behind a grill with a pork chop in one hand as he sparred with Page.

When Page asked about LGBT people who are “being fired for just strictly being gay or trans”, Cruz launched a conversation about religious persecution instead of LGBT persecution, saying that “Bible-believing Christians [are] being persecuted for living according to their faith.”

“For discriminating against LGBTs,” Page interjected.

Cruz replied, “No, for living according to their faith.”

The senator, who was to hold a ‘rally for religious liberty’ in the town that evening, spoke more about defending the freedom to practise one’s religion. He also said that LGBTs faced the most discrimination from countries like Iran and groups like ISIS.

Page pointed out that LGBTs are facing violence all over the world, to which Cruz replied that there is a moral difference between those murdering people and those who are not.

The exchange ended rather abruptly when Cruz asked why Obama wasn’t standing against what he earlier described as “radical Islamic terrorists in ISIS that are beheading children”.

“I would love to talk to Obama about it. That’d be great,” Page said.

“Well, good, then we’re agreed on it,” Cruz said.

“No, no, we’re not,” Page said. “Don’t do that.”

Cruz said, “Ma’am, we’ve had a long discussion.”

“Yeah, I appreciate it, yeah,” Page said, then turned away.

Cruz later told reporters, “I think the conversation is about persecution of religious liberty and she didn’t want to have that conversation,” and said he did not know that he was speaking with actress Ellen Page.

Watch the conversation below: