He had a loving family, but was frequently bullied at school over his emerging sexuality.

After moving away from the city, the idea of returning to Wagga was far from Mr Benedyka's mind.

But so much has changed. Mr Benedyka is now actively planning to return permanently to Wagga

"I never felt safe to come home, but now I do," he said.

"It's really important to me because I want to give back to my town and live peacefully like my grandparents did."

Mr Benedyka, 39, was in the city over the weekend, originally having planned to attend the Wagga Mardi Gras, which was cancelled because of coronavirus concerns.

Also in Wagga, at Mr Benedyka's suggestion, was Pacifique Ndayisaba, who came to Australia as a refugee after fleeing Burundi in 2011.

After meeting at a conference in Brisbane, the pair began working together to protest against the efforts of controversial former tennis champion Margaret Court and her husband Barry to establish an honorary consulate for the African Republic of Burundi in Australia.

The east African nation is known for its persecution of minorities, use of torture and summary executions, and has been accused of "crimes against humanity".

Mr Ndayisaba and his family are Christian, and he is keen to spread of message of equality, human rights, love and tolerance in response to the support the Courts have given the Burundi regime.

Mr Benedyka said Mrs Court, who has also attracted controversy over her comments on homosexuality, was "an example of how we need to separate church and state in order to protect all of our beliefs and freedoms".

The grandson of refugees who sought a new life in Wagga after World War II, Mr Benedyka has spent the past seven years working with the Red Cross to resettle new arrivals to Australia.

Both men believe Wagga in 2020 is a welcoming community, where people can feel safe.

"I tell people that Australia is safe, that places like Wagga are safe," Mr Ndayisaba said.