The MP who made news around the world for his speech in favour of marriage equality has apologised over an event he MC'd which included a homophobic joke. Maurice Williamson in dress up for the MC gig Pakuranga National MP Maurice Williamson hosted a gala dinner for an IT company last week, where attendees say he made sexist joked and played an audio clip that disparaged women and gay men. The clip from a US radio show entitled 'Atta Girl Knee Pads' states in reference to gay men "Your bum may be sore, but you won't have a bum knee." Williamson has issued a statement offering an unreserved apology, saying he overstepped the line on the night and did cause offence. Labour's Sue Moroney is among those calling for Prime Minister John Key to reprimand him. “Not only were his jokes sexist, they were homophobic – from a man who was praised internationally for his ‘big gay rainbow' comment during the marriage equality debate," she says. “Instead of dismissing his MP as ‘flamboyant' John Key should condemn his toxic comments and demand a full public apology,” Sue Moroney says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 3rd September 2015 - 8:20pm