In episode four of Undressed we met Steven, a gay drama student who’s never been in a relationship or been in love; and Jacob, a bisexual personal trainer. Both have a love of tattoos, and as they undress each other we learn they share common stories on their skin, right down to flowers that represent family members of both men.

But deeper than ink, the skin of each man tells a different story. Steven is a black Mauritian Australian. Jacob is a Lebanese Australian who describes his type as “beachy”.

As they lay on the Undressed bed, bare skin and big smiles, Steven and Jacob are asked if they’ve ever experienced racism, and it’s in conversations like these that Undressed is elevated above your average dating show.

Racism in the gay community, where exclusion is often palmed off with the language of “preference” is a major issue, and one that Steven revealed has affected him deeply – a topic rarely covered on Australian TV.

“Before coming out and learning about the Sydney gay scene I never really experienced racism,” Steven tells Junkee. “I grew up in a very multicultural community. Being surrounded by hundreds of cultures, different people from different backgrounds, different walks of life. To me that was my normal. Rather than considering race or culture as a differentiating factor, it’s actually idolised and loved by all. I was never going exclude someone because of their race, culture or beliefs because I wasn’t raised that way.

“Going into the gay scene in Sydney I realised quickly that racism is alive and well and it hurts. Very quickly I realised that a lot of boys were never going to give me the time of day simply because I’m a black man. Constantly hearing the phrase ‘no blacks’ or ‘not racist, just a preference’ pisses me off so much. People excluding themselves from others solely because of the colour of their skin. Not giving anyone a chance at all.”

For Steven, racism is a major factor as to why he hasn’t been in love before. “Throughout the years I’ve tried to break down this horrendous trend but in all honesty I have gotten tired trying to fight. I don’t want to accept that my skin colour is a disadvantage in the dating world, but I’m really tired and I do have other things in my life to worry about rather than love.

“Experiencing all the backlash and abuse from gay men because I’m black has honestly put me in a position where I don’t want meet boys, I don’t want to go out to Oxford Street, I don’t want go on dates. I’m too afraid that they’re not going to like me because of my skin colour.”

And The Conclusion?

Despite appearing to get on well, when they make their decisions to see each other again, Jacob selects no. For viewers, the “beachy type” comment in Jacob’s introduction seemed to stand out.

“It is clear that I am not the ‘beach type’ at all,” he says. “If anything I’m the exact opposite. In comparison to his type, I am considered the drastic measure … Jacob had every right to say that [was his type], and I don’t have an issue with it.

“I’m not saying Jacob is racist or anything like that. I’m saying that it’s a pretty big jump going from ‘beachy boys’ to a black Mauritian man whose version of a good time is MMA fighting and streaking at 3am in Newtown.”

While the two didn’t become an item, Steven is clear that there are no hard feelings. “I don’t hold any negative feelings towards him at all and I wish him nothing but the best for the future. I would love to get a drink with him one day and sit down and have a laugh about the whole experience, because it was a rare thing to be a part of.”

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Undressed is a relationship experiment with a difference: what happens when you put two strangers in a room, dressed down to their underwear and ask them intimate, challenging questions about who they are? Undressed screens every Monday at 9.30pm AEST on SBS, or right now on SBS On Demand.