A Catholic family in the conservative and rural southern Queensland town of St George was not the first place you’d expect to meet a couple of gay blokes.
Graham Perrett, now a federal MP, was under the impression he did not know any homosexuals while growing up.
At least he thought he didn’t.
That was until two of his many knockabout brothers “came out” after they had left the small community.
“The family was surprised, especially being Catholic,” Mr Perrett said.
“One of them was a beefy footballer who played schoolboy rugby league for Queensland.
“It surprised many of his teammates.”
Mr Perrett, a heterosexual, said the place he grew up had a constant element of homophobia.
Indeed, he explained he can now look back and concede he too had a narrow view of the world of sexuality.
After discussions with his brothers, he believes a number of others they knew while growing up had also suppressed their sexual inclinations.
“I was very homophobic,” he told the Sunday Canberra Times.
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