DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowans assume they'll see plenty of familiar faces at their state fair as election season heats up, but witnessing a famous actress and a presidential candidate engage in a tense discussion over gay rights isn't something most people expected.

As Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was grilling pork chops surrounded by media on Friday afternoon at the fair, actress Ellen Page, clad in a hat and oversized sunglasses, pushed her way to the front of the pack to ask the GOP presidential hopeful about discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

LGBTQ people can be fired for just being gay, just being trans, Page said. How do you feel about that? That doesnt sound very American to me.

At the end of the day, what we should not be doing is persecuting people, Cruz replied, not appearing to recognize the Canadian actress.

Watch the video above.

Page sought out the exchange, which occurred hours before Cruzs religious freedom rally, for her Vice show called Gaycation, in which she shows how LGBT culture is perceived around the world. The Canadian actress came out as gay last year.

Im happy to answer your question, but not to have a back-and-forth debate, Cruz said following one of Pages interruptions.

Religious freedom was often used to justify LGBTQ discrimination, Page said, comparing the Texas senators argument to the one used to justify segregation. A lot of religious people use the Bible to defend segregation.