WHEN they first moved in together, Mike* and his partner, who were both Catholic school teachers in Sydney, took some unusual steps to conceal their sexuality.

''We set up our house with two bedrooms so if any colleagues came over we could pretend we were just flatmates,'' he said.

Out but not proud ... Daniel Torcasio became concerned by the lies he told his students. Credit:Melanie Faith Dove

Mike now works in an independent school, where he is open with staff, though not students, about his sexuality. His partner, who still works in the Catholic system, is more guarded.

''He's not able to take a day off work if I am sick. He has to be very guarded as to who he reveals his lifestyle to.''