Gay marriage proved a headache for Julia Gillard at her party's conference in December. But in the current climate, she just might be relieved to converse on a subject that doesn't involve her Foreign Minister.

She'll get the chance tonight when she hosts three same-sex couples at The Lodge, the upshot of an auction of six tickets for dinner with the Prime Minister that were bought by the activist group GetUp last year at the Canberra press gallery's last mid-winter ball.

Ready to chew the fat: John Dini (left) and Steve Russell at their butcher shop in the seat of Lalor. Credit:Rebecca Hallas

Two of the planned guests told The Age yesterday that while they hoped the atmosphere would be relaxed and informal, Ms Gillard will be in for some straight talk about how Australia's refusal to recognise gay marriage hurts them.

John Dini, 29, who will be there with his partner of nine years, Steve Russell, 51, said the aim of the dinner was to put a ''human touch'' on the issue of legalising gay marriage, which Ms Gillard opposes. The couple live and own a butcher's shop in Ms Gillard's seat of Lalor.