Marriage was the hot topic at The Lodge last night as the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, hosted three same-sex couples for dinner who brought their personal stories to the table in an attempt to persuade the Labor leader to allow them a chance to walk down the aisle.
The gathering was the result of a charity auction for a dinner for six with the Prime Minister that was bought by activist group GetUp last year at the Canberra press gallery's mid-winter ball.
But it was the late confirmation of two unexpected guests that ensured the nosh-up was not the domain of adult discussion and posturing.
Sydney brothers Matthew Miller, 12, and Dylan Miller, 9, escorted their mothers Sandy Miller and Louise Bucke to the Prime Minister's residence to provide their argument for legalising same-sex marriage.
Ms Miller and Ms Bucke have been a couple for four years and engaged for two and their eldest child said he was tired of waiting for the day he could watch them formally tie the knot. ''I don't know really why I am here,'' Matthew said. ''To me, it is simple and this argument should have been settled long ago. People should be allowed to marry the person they love and to be accepted by all society.''
His brother, Dylan, has written to Ms Gillard previously pleading for her to legalise same-sex marriage and said he wanted to deliver the message in person.
''I just want her to have a think how much it would hurt her if she couldn't marry the person she loves most in the whole world,'' he said.
Ms Miller said she believed Ms Gillard was politically hamstrung on the issue and that the conscience vote Ms Gillard had granted her MPs was just the first step. ''I believe she is in political conflict over this,'' she said.
''I think she personally is for same-sex marriage and I hope one day she will see this isn't a damaging thing for society. It is about love. Laws are there to protect people's human rights, not to deny them.''
The guests gathered at Parliament House yesterday for drinks and canapes with the media before heading to the formal surrounds of The Lodge.
John Dini, 29, accompanied by his partner of nine years, Steve Russell, 51 - the couple live and own a butcher's shop in Ms Gillard's seat of Lalor - said he was not expecting any tensions to arise during the evening and that his only intention was to put a ''human touch'' on the issue.
He said it was ''disappointing that a party that was once quite a socially progressive party has bowed to pressure from the right and religious groups.''
''It's discrimination; there's no other way to describe it,'' he said.
Mr Dini voted for Kevin Rudd as prime minister in 2007 but switched his vote to the Greens in 2010 as it was the only party advocating same-sex marriage.
Sharon Dane, 54, and her partner, Elaine Crump, 53, also attended the diverse event. The couple tied the knot in Canada, which allows same-sex marriage, and Ms Dane said she would ask the Prime Minister why their marriage could not be recognised in their country of birth. ''Apart from the sex of the people we're attracted to, our feelings of love and commitment is not different to anyone else's,'' she said.
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said Ms Gillard was ''looking forward to the dinner and fulfilling her longstanding commitment.''
''The Labor Party's position on this is clear,'' the spokeswoman said. ''When the private members' bills on same sex marriage come to a vote, Labor MPs will be able to vote according to their conscience.''
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