National taking this same sex stuff a step too far

The New Zealand National Party is currently hosting a meeting of the Executive of the International Democrat Union. This is the federation of centre-right parties from around the globe. Chaired by John Howard, it has 80 member parties.

As I have been involved in the past, and know quite a few of the people attending I’ve been fortunate enough to be attending the meeting, and the associated social functions.

Last night was the formal dinner at Hippopotamus Restaurant at the Museum Hotel (which incidentally was top class  fantastic food). Yesterday morning I got a call from National Party HQ saying they had had a couple of people unable to attend, and I could bring a date at no extra cost if I wanted to.

I thought this was wonderful, and my mind started to think about which lovely young woman I could invite and impress by introducing her to the various party leaders and MPs from around the world. Before my mind could even start compiling a short-list of dates, I then was informed “And we want your date to be Neil Miller“.

Now I’m about as liberal as one can get on same sex issues, having supported civil unions, gay marriage and same sex adoption. But having National make it compulsory for me to have a same sex date to the IDU dinner was just a step too far.

However as a loyal person, I rang up Neil and invited him to be my date for the dinner. Strangely Neil seemed more upset by the fact he had to wear a tie, than being my date. He did show some concern when I joked his name tag would be Mrs Neil Farrar. He got revenge though by giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek in front of the Prime Minister. Luckily I had pre-briefed the PM that it was his party that had made same sex dating compulsory.

Neil proved to be an admirable date, so I have decided not to join Colin Craig’s Conservative Party yet. I will insist on choosing my own dates for any future events though!