‘Northeastern States more tolerant of LGBTQ persons’

Benjamin Daimary, India’s first gay actor to win a national award, opens up on acceptance

Mumbai or any other place in the “mainland” is not as tolerant or understanding of the LGBTQ community as the northeast of India, the country’s first gay actor to win a national film award says. Benjamin Daimary was awarded the jury special mention at the 67th National Film Awards on March 22 for his portrayal of Jahnu, a transgender, in Prakash Deka’s Assamese film Jonaki Poruwa (Fireflies). And the new label of “you have created history” from people in the entertainment industry, has taken time to sink in for the youth.