Growing up in Dungog, Flynn was the young country boy who grew up around beef cattle and played football.

But when he hit puberty something began to feel amiss.

“I knew there was something different about me, but I didn’t have any effeminate traits,” Mr Flynn said.

“So, growing up as a closeted rough and tumble country boy with none of the stereotypical traits of a gay man, I saw and heard first hand the way the homosexual community was spoken about and the negative connotations attached to being gay.”

A new study from mental health charity beyondblue has revealed alarmingly high rates of homophobia among young Australian men with 40 per cent of teenage boys feeling anxious or uncomfortable around same-sex attracted people.

The study also found that more than a third of respondents wouldn’t be happy to have a gay person in their social group and a quarter felt it was acceptable to use the term gay as a derogatory term.

“This new study highlights the need for both parents and teachers alike to stamp out this type of language,” said Mr Flynn, who now plays for Australia’s first gay and inclusive rugby union club.

“I’ve read statistics regarding approval rates of marriage equality are highest in the younger age demographic and least favourable in the older demographics.

“This you think would translate to awareness of appropriate and inappropriate language amongst adolescent and younger generations.”

Mr Flynn believed the problem was within the school ground culture of bullying.

“For too long the use of the word gay to describe something that is bad has been allowed to flourish without punishment in the school grounds,” he said.

“The perceived notion that being gay is a bad thing is, as a gay man, offensive and something that needs to be addressed by educators and parents alike.”

The findings come as beyondblue starts a national campaign to end lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intergender ­discrimination among teenagers and young men.

The Stop. Think. Respect: Left Hand campaign features a cinema advertisement in which a group of boys bully a left-handed teenager, calling him a freak, to highlight the absurdity of discriminating against someone because they are left-handed and discriminating against someone who is not heterosexual.

“The LGBTI community strive for acceptance and wants the same as any other community,” Mr Flynn said.

“I’m a paramedic and know that when I’m called out to a life and death situation my sexual orientation will be last thing that my patient or their loved ones will care about.

“This [type of denigration] has to change and it starts at home and in the school grounds. 

“The major sporting codes don’t accept this type of language; it’s time for our schools to stand up and take this seriously.”

For help or information phone Lifeline on 131 114, beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.