Farmer Dave Graham on Australian Story Part 2

When David Graham came out to his Big Brother housemates in 2006 it was a watershed moment in Australian television.

Graham was one of the many dashing young men who had been cast in the long-running reality series, but kept his sexuality under wraps for several weeks while his housemates - and viewers - got to know his personality.

When he admitted he was "the token gay" in the series it was a revelation to many of his housemates who had presumed his background as a Queensland farmer automatically meant he was heterosexual. For TV viewers it became a soap-opera coming out and a chance to better understand gay Australians that hadn't been seen since in primetime since Gav and Waz on The Block three years earlier.

But Graham's candid personal story was also done without his family's prior knowledge.

In ABC's Australian Story he explains that the public coming out strained an already tense relationship with his traditionalist father.

Following the series, Graham became a pin-up boy for the gay community, with interviews, photo shoots, nightclub appearances, and working with community groups. He personified the myth that no gay men would be caught living in the bush.

But as the youngest of a family with agriculture in its DNA, he had been anointed heir apparent to the family property in rural Queensland. Following Big Brother, some in the family questioned his motivation and competence to inherit the family legacy. In Australian Story he shares some of the challenges that followed his flirt with TV and eventually resolving issues with his father.

"It was very strange. Was it a father saying, 'Forgive me for being not the perfect father'? Or was it a father saying, 'I forgive you for not being the perfect son'? I don't know what it was and what it meant, but I'm glad it happened," he says.

These days Graham continues to belie stereotypes, holding ambitions for a political future with the National Party, while still working towards his dream of returning to the family property.

Australian Story was introduced by Kate Ceberano whom Graham met during an appearance on Dancing with the Stars.

It screened 8pm Monday November 1st on ABC1.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Gay
• Coming Out
• Australian Story
• David Graham
• Farmer Dave

[Aussiedoll1]

I totally loved him on BB :) My fave housemate ever i gotta say lol

[Ces674]

He's kinda guy my type lol seriously

[pinkpokeadotz]

that's so sad that they bashed him :( i remember him talking about it on big brother..i cried