‘I thought I’d die at Armageddon’: Hollywood action hero Luke Evans on growing up gay as a Jehovah’s Witness
The Welsh actor talks religion, rebelling and why he had to come out twice
• ‘I was bullied for being gay’: read an extract from Luke Evans’ memoir
At the age of 13, Luke Evans faced an impossible choice – either be true to himself and embrace his sexuality, or stay true to God. If he told his Jehovah’s Witness parents that he was gay, they would be honour-bound to inform the church elders, and that would be the end of life as he knew it. If he didn’t tell them, he would be forced into a world of deceit or denial. He chose God.
Evans became the youngest boy in his south Wales congregation to be baptised. He formally and publicly devoted his life to Jehovah. If he came out as gay now, he would be banished from the church. All upstanding members of the congregation, including his mother and father, would be expected to break off contact with him; to act as if he was dead or simply had never existed.
Continue reading...-
Star describes growing up gay as Jehovah's Witness
Top stories - BBC News - November 14 -
Unlikely action star Luke Evans relived his past to inspire others
Entertainment - Los Angeles Times - November 7 -
‘I never thought I’d win’: Verstappen after shock Brazil GP triumph from 17th
World - The Guardian - November 3 -
'I thought I was going to die': Former police officer testifies at murder trial
Top stories - ABC News - October 28 -
White ex-officer testifies in fatal shooting of Black man: 'I thought I was going to die'
Top stories - NBC News - October 29 -
'I thought I'd die after injecting black market anti-obesity drug'
Top stories - BBC News - 11 hours ago -
If I were Captain America, I’d quit | Stewart Lee
World - The Guardian - November 10 -
‘I didn’t think I’d walk again after road crash’
Top stories - BBC News - Yesterday -
'I never thought I would make it to this stage'
Top stories - BBC News - October 23
More from The Guardian
-
US and Israel reject ICC warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest – Middle East live
World - The Guardian - 13 minutes ago -
Matt Gaetz withdraws his nomination to be Trump’s attorney general – live
World - The Guardian - 12 minutes ago -
Ukraine claims Russia fired intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro
World - The Guardian - 5 hours ago -
First close-up image of a star outside Milky Way shows supergiant in ‘cocoon’
World - The Guardian - 3 hours ago -
British lawyer is fifth person to die in suspected methanol poisoning in Laos
World - The Guardian - 59 minutes ago