Nobody spoke about being gay in Ireland. I come from a big Catholic family – six kids, millions of cousins – from a rural part of the country, and I didn’t think there was anyone like me. Although my parents and family have been unwavering in their support from the day I came out in 2001, they also understood my need to leave a country where, back then, a religion that didn’t recognise me was so dominant.
Cities like Sydney are queer beacons and, when a career opportunity arose, I moved to a job at St Vincent’s hospital. That’s when I met Mitch, at a Mardi Gras party.
