Domenic Scarfone was born and raised in country New South Wales in Australia. He spent the first 21 years of his life working, living and breathing rural air.

But it wasn’t until he decided to move to London that he came to terms with his sexuality.

‘Everyone knew I was gay except for me. It wasn’t until I moved to London that I was like ‘yep, this is a thing’, he said.

‘Griffith is a small country town. Everyone’s so relaxed and you know everyone. London is so busy. It’s just exciting not being known and doing whatever you want,’ he said.

A new report released by The Rainbow Project found LGBTI people in Northern Ireland have more resources when coming out in urban as opposed to rural areas.

The report found 43% of respondents said their sexual orientation was at least partly related their desire to move.

According to Pink News, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Michelle O’Neill, believed ensuring LGBT people in rural areas is an important commitment.

‘I am fully committed to equality and my officials will continue to work closely with the Rainbow Project in taking forward key issues relevant to LGBT people especially when it comes to improving their quality of life in rural areas,’ she said.

The report stated: ‘LGB&/T people living in rural areas experience poorer outcomes than those living in an urban area.’

Domenic believes there are so many more opportunities in urban areas than there are in rural communities.

‘It’s like that old school saying – I didn’t want any of the lives of the people around me, so I left to find the life I wanted,’ he said.

The report states a number of other findings, like LGBT people in rural areas being less inclined to be out, having less access to LGBT resources, or less likely to know someone else in their workplace who is out.