Ellen Page confronts GOP candidate Ted Cruz on gay rights

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Saturday, August 22, 2015
GOP candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a "Rally for Religious Liberty" (left) and actress Ellen Page attends the TrevorLIVE Benefit at the Marriott Marquis.
GOP candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a "Rally for Religious Liberty" (left) and actress Ellen Page attends the TrevorLIVE Benefit at the Marriott Marquis (right).
kgo-AP Photo/Paul Sancya/Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP

IOWA -- At the Iowa State Fair, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz was confronted about gay rights from an Oscar-nominated actress.

"Gay people used to be thrown in jail when it was illegal in this country," actress Ellen Page said.

"We're seeing Bible-believing Christians being persecuted," Cruz responded.

The "Juno" actress was the one asking the questions. She believes the Republican candidate discriminates against gays.

The exchange went nearly five minutes.

Cruz, a senator from Texas who is said to be rising in the polls, said he didn't recognize the actress.