The only Tory in the village
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:43 pm
Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans 'didn't want to live lie'
Nigel Evans MP Nigel Evans said it was "daft" to carry on denying he was gay
A deputy Commons Speaker who has come out as gay says he no longer wanted to "live a lie".
Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who is from Swansea, says it was hard enough growing up in Wales as a Conservative, "let alone being gay".
Mr Evans, 53, said he wanted to be open about his sexuality.
He discussed it with former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas, who came out a year ago, and he realised "it should be no big deal for me".
Mr Evans is backing an initiative by charity Stonewall to support gay politicians and Westminster staff. He becomes the 22nd openly gay MP in the current House of Commons.
One of them, Labour Rhondda MP Chris Bryant has said that Mr Evans's sexuality was "an open secret in Parliament for years".
Mr Evans claimed in the Mail on Sunday that a Labour MP - who he did not name - had been threatening to "out" him.
He said a fellow Tory MP had also asked if he should include his name on a list of the most powerful gay politicians.
Mr Evans said: "I thought, this is just daft. I am not going to live a lie any more."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12031978