Luke Evans on growing up gay as a Jehovah's Witness Getty Images Luke Evans says he experienced bullying as a child Hollywood star Luke Evans has described the difficulties growing up as a Jehovah's Witness knowing he was gay. Evans said he hid his sexuality, partly to protect his parents. Jehovah's Witnesses reject homosexuality and Evans - the Welsh actor whose films include Beauty and the Beast, The Hobbit, and Fast & Furious 6 - understood he would be expelled from the community if he came out, with implications for his family too.
"I just knew that because of the religion it would pose a very difficult situation for us, because the religion would not accept it," he said. Growing up as an only child in the south Wales valleys, he said he had a very close and happy relationship with his parents, David and Yvonne. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Lucy Owen programme he said he had no choice but to try to fit in during his early teens, despite knowing he was gay.
"I guess I chose the religion. I'm not sure I believed in any of it, if I'm blatantly honest, but I didn't have much choice. "I was too young to leave home legally.
If I'd have left, they'd have dragged me back." He said he "didn't want to put his mum and dad through that" and realised he had to "try and make the best of a situation" and that is what he did. Luke Evans Luke Evans says his childhood with his parents David and Yvonne was full of love In his new memoir, Boy from the Valleys: My Unexpected Journey, Evans de.
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