FAMILY First leader Steve Fielding has rebuked his party's candidate in the far north Queensland seat of Leichhardt for demanding that his Liberal opponent declare if she is gay.

Ben Jacobsen, who opposes gay marriage and gay parenting, had insisted that Liberal Charlie McKillop make her sexuality public.

"Voters may not give a rats if a candidate is gay," he told The Courier-Mail. "But they have a right to know who you'll bat for."

Mr Jacobsen apologised yesterday for "the hurt and offence I have caused", saying he regretted making the comment.