The Feed: Oct 6

Monday night’s episode of The Feed on SBS 2 will feature a story on growing up gay in rural Australia.

The story features a number of interview subjects, both older and younger, discussing their various experiences across varying decades.

Ivan hasn’t been back to his rural hometown of Tumut NSW in 21 years. He left as a teenager after a childhood of bullying about his sexuality, and never looked back. Until now.

On Monday night, The Feed follows Ivan’s emotional journey back to the bush to confront his bully – Sam.

“I was bullied as early as five years old. I would wake up and wouldn’t want to be awake. I wouldn’t want to go to school …

“For so very long Sam has represented all of the school kids that I struggled with, that I didn’t fit in with. And I need to resolve that.”

Take a journey into regional Australia as The Feed explores heartbreaking tales of growing up surrounded by homophobia – and the growing sense of change in the air.

Meet Wagga Wagga gay activist Ray Goodlass whose lifelong battle for equality is beginning to make progress with his new weekly column in the NSW Riverina’s largest daily newspaper, The Daily Advertiser.

“If you’re the only gay in the village it’s no joke because you are vulnerable,” Goodlass tells The Feed. “The mob mentality of those who see that difference are provoked into bullying because bullies like to bully those who are different.”

The story also follows Naylan, a young gay man who wants to stay in the country and start a family, refusing to let the local bullying he’s experienced stand in his way.

7:30pm Monday on SBS 2.