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‘Game of Thrones’ star Kristian Nairn confused over Northern Ireland’s anti-LGBTQ stance

The openly gay actor portrayed the loveable Hodor in the hit series

By Steve Brown

Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn says it’s hard to be an ‘ambassador’ for Northern Ireland due to its anti-LGBTQ stance.

Currently, Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK or Ireland that still bans marriage for same-sex couples, despite there being increasing support among the public and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

And in an interview with Thompson Reuters Foundation, Nairn – who is best known for playing Hodor in the hit fantasy series (sad face) – admitted he is confused about why his home country is a “little step behind”.

Nairn, who is openly gay, said: “It confuses me why we always have to be that little step behind on social issues like this.

“It makes it hard to be an ambassador from here. There’s a lot of very amazing things about Northern Ireland, but the gay rights issues are definitely not one of them.”