‘The Christmas Setup’: Meet real-life gay uple Ben Lewis and Blake Lee who star Lifetime’s first LGBTQ holiday movie | MEAWW

Contents:

• LIFETIME STS REAL-LIFE MARRIED GAY UPLE S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE
•  THE CHRISTMAS SETUP MEET BEN LEWIS BLAKE LEE REAL LIFE GAY UPLE LIFETIME FIRST LGBTQ FILM
• REAL-LIFE MARRIED GAY UPLE ST 1ST LIFETIME LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE
• SHOP THE BT OF 'THE RIGHT STUFF'!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHCULTUREBEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE ON LGBTQ REPRENTATN 'THE CHRISTMAS SETUP,' LIFETIME'S 1ST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE3:25STARS LIFETIME’S FIRST LGBTQ+ HOLIDAY MOVIE TALK BYCARSON BLACKWELR DECEMBER 07, 2020, 4:15 AMBEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE, THE REAL-LIFE MARRIED UPLE STARRG LIFETIME'S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE, "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," HOPE THIS IS "JT THE BEGNG" OF THE WORK BEG MORE CLIVE."WE'RE ONE OF A UPLE LGBTQ HOLIDAY FILMS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS CREDIBLE. TO HAVE A YEAR WHERE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE, 'S WILD," LEE, 37, TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI.""I HOPE THAT LIFETIME -- AND I THK THAT THEY WILL BEE THEY'VE BEEN SO GREAT ABOUT TELLG THIS STORY -- I HOPE THAT THEY DO TELL A STORY THAT CENTERS AROUND A TRANS PERSON OR A NON-BARY PERSON OR QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR," HE ADD. "I THK THAT THEY WILL AND I AM EXCED FOR THOSE STORI."LEWIS, 34, POTED OUT THE SIGNIFINCE OF A "FAY-IENDLY WORK" LIKE LIFETIME EXPANDG S STORYTELLG TO CLU LGBTQ PEOPLE.MORE: REAL-LIFE MARRIED GAY UPLE ST 1ST LIFETIME LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE"THIS IS JT A REALLY POWERFUL EXAMPLE THAT GAY PEOPLE AREN'T JT FAY-IENDLY, THEY ARE YOUR FAY. THEY'RE EVERY FAY, AND TO SEE THE GAY MUNY REPRENTED THIS TYPE OF MOVIE IS REALLY SIGNIFINT.""THE CHRISTMAS SETUP" -- WHICH PREMIER SATURDAY, DEC. 12, ON LIFETIME -- IS THE WORK'S FIRST TIME FEATURG A SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP AT THE RE OF ONE OF S "IT'S A WONRFUL LIFETIME" HOLIDAY MOVI. A SAME-SEX KISS WAS FEATURED 2019'S HOLIDAY OFFERG "TWKLE ALL THE WAY," BUT THAT RELATNSHIP WASN'T THE FILM'S CENTRAL FOC.BEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE STAR "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LIFETIME'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE.ALBERT CAMICLI/COURTY OF LIFETIMEIN "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," HUGO (LEWIS), A NEW YORK LAWYER, RETURNS HOME TO MILWKEE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WH HIS BT IEND, MALYN (ELLEN WONG). HIS MOTHER, KATE (FRAN DRCHER), CIS TO PLAY MATCHMAKER BETWEEN HIM AND HIS SECRET HIGH SCHOOL CSH, PATRICK (LEE), WHO RECENTLY MA BIG SILIN VALLEY. WHILE THEIR RELATNSHIP SPARKS, HUGO RECEIV A BIG PROMOTN WHICH WOULD REQUIRE HIM TO MOVE TO LONDON, FORCG HIM TO CI BETWEEN REER AND LOVE.THE PAIR ALSO DISCSED THEIR APPRECIATN OVER LIFETIME STRIVG TO THENTILLY REPRENT THE LGBTQ MUNY BY NOT JT STG GAY ACTORS TO PLAY GAY CHARACTERS, BUT BY CLUDG A GAY DIRECTOR, PAT MILLS, A GAY WRER, MICHAEL J. MURRAY, HAVG A GAY PERSON AT THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LEVEL AND NSULTG WH GLAAD THROUGHOUT THE MAKG OF THE FILM."I THK WE'RE BOTH VERY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL THAT THAT'S SORT OF THE WAY THAT THGS SEEM TO BE CULTURALLY SHIFTG," LEWIS NOTED. "THE LGBTQ+ DIENCE WANTS TO SEE THEMSELV REPRENTED AN THENTIC WAY AND, IF THEY DON'T, THEY'RE VERY VOL ABOUT .""AS WE SHOULD BE," LEE ADD.MORE: JONATHAN BENT TALKS LGBTQ REPRENTATN NEW HALLMARK MOVIE, 'THE CHRISTMAS HOE'BOTH ACTORS SAID THE "SURREAL" REALY OF THIS HISTORY-MAKG HOLIDAY FILM IS JT BEGNG TO SETTLE AND THEY FEEL "LUCKY" TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNY."WE'RE REALLY EXCED FOR FAI TO WATCH THIS MOVIE -- PECIALLY FAI THAT HAVE LGBTQ CHILDREN OR MEMBERS OF THE FAY, BUT ALSO JT FOR EVERYBODY," LEWIS SAID. "LGBTQ+ PEOPLE ARE PART OF SOCIETY … AND SERVE ALL THE RPECT AND REGNN THAT THEIR STRAIGHT UNTERPARTS HAVE ENJOYED FOR A LONG TIME."LEE NOTED THAT THIS MOVIE ISN'T ALL THAT DIFFERENT OM LIFETIME'S OTHER HOLIDAY PRODUCTNS. THE ONLY THG THAT MA "EXCEPTNAL" IS THAT 'S ABOUT TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX FALLG LOVE.THE ST OF "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LIFETIME'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE.ALBERT CAMICLI/COURTY OF LIFETIME"THE FACT THAT 'S TWO MEN AND THE FACT THAT 'S SO UNREMARKABLE IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST PROGRSIVE THGS ABOUT THE MOVIE," LEWIS ADD.WH NOBODY THE STORY HAVG AN ISSUE WH THE CHARACTERS BEG GAY, LEE SAID " WAS SO REHG AND SO NICE TO KD OF PE TO THAT WORLD, AND I THK THAT LGBTQ PEOPLE SERVE THAT STORY."WH A REAL-LIFE UPLE PLAYG ON-SCREEN LOVERS, THIS ALLOWED THE MOVIE TO AVOID THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO HAVE ROMANTIC SCEN AMID THE COVID-19 PANMIC. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE LIFETIME HOLIDAY MOVIE, "CHRISTMAS EVER AFTER," FEATURED THE FILM'S ACTORS KISSG WH A PLEXIGLASS BARRIER BETWEEN THEM THAT WOULD LATER BE REMOVED POST-PRODUCTN.MORE: 'TAKE OM ME': PROUD LGBTQ CELEBS SHARE THEIR MOST EMPOWERG ADVICE"I'M SO CUR TO SEE HOW THE PLEXIGLASS THG WORKED," LEE SAID. "I'M SURE 'LL LOOK GREAT BEE YOU N DO ANYTHG WH CGI, BUT WOULD FEEL SO WEIRD TO JT BE MAKG OUT WH A WDOW.""HONTLY," LEWIS CHIMED , "GETTG PAID TO KISS YOUR SPOE IS NOT THE WORST GIG THE WORLD."PL, THE FILM GAVE THE UPLE A CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOE AND BACK TO WORK DURG THE NATNWI LOCKDOWN.BEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE STAR "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LIFETIME'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE.ALBERT CAMICLI/COURTY OF LIFETIME"IT WAS A MUCH-NEED ALTERNATE REALY FOR ," LEWIS SAID."AND PECIALLY A YEAR WHERE WE'RE NOT GOG HOME FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR," LEE POTED OUT, "SO WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS PERFECT CHRISTMAS WH FRAN DRCHER."AS FOR WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD RETURN A SEQUEL TO "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LEWIS SAID HE AT FIRST THOUGHT THIS WAS "SUCH A UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KD EXPERIENCE" BUT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO NEVER WANT THE RI TO STOP.MORE: TRANSGENR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE HONORS LIV LOST WHILE MARKG STAGGERG TONE"ALL OF WOULD DO AGA," LEE SAID. "THERE'S FELY A NVERSATN.""IF THE DIENCE HAS AS MUCH FUN WATCHG THE MOVIE AS WE HAD MAKG ," LEWIS ADD, "THEN WE'RE FELY HOPEFUL ABOUT G BACK.""THE CHRISTMAS SETUP" PREMIER SATURDAY, DEC. 12, ON LIFETIME.RELATED TOPICSLGBTQUP NEXT CULTURE—ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023ACTOR DANNY TREJO CELEBRAT 55 YEARS 'CLEAN AND SOBER'AUGT 25, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023ACTOR DANNY TREJO CELEBRAT 55 YEARS 'CLEAN AND SOBER'AUGT 25, 2023
• LIFETIME’S FIRST QUEER CHRISTMAS MOVIE STS REAL-LIFE MARRIED UPLE AS GAY LEADS AND IS TIME TO CRACK THE EGGNOG OUT YET?
• BIG BROTHER'S ALEX LEE OUT AS GAY AND REVEALS NEW LOOK
• MCGRATH: MIKE LEE, STOP POLICG GAY PARENTS

LIFETIME STS REAL-LIFE MARRIED GAY UPLE S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE

"What's betiful about this movie is that 's not about the trma or the stggle of the gay experience, which is certaly valid — but if that's what you want to see, for the last four years, certaly, you uld very easily turn on the news, " Lee says.

Lewis adds that A Christmas Setup is for gay kids and adults alike who have not tradnally seen themselv characters onscreen.

 THE CHRISTMAS SETUP MEET BEN LEWIS BLAKE LEE REAL LIFE GAY UPLE LIFETIME FIRST LGBTQ FILM

But this time around, Lifetime is puttg the gay romance at the center of the story. “This is jt a really powerful example that gay people aren’t jt fay-iendly, they are your fay, ” Lewis shared a nversatn wh GMA. “They’re every fay, and to see the gay muny reprented this type of movie is really signifint.

We need to have a trans actor the next movie, we need to have a queer person of lor… It’s very important bee we are aware we are two whe, cisgenred, privileged gay men. Add Lewis: “Whe, cisgenred gay men are always the first one ved to the party. That's how Cel Summer star Blake Lee, who ma history alongsi hband Ben Lewis by starrg Lifetime's first queer Christmas film, The Christmas Setup, felt watchg the gay love story unfold on the Freeform h.

REAL-LIFE MARRIED GAY UPLE ST 1ST LIFETIME LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE

For those unfaiar wh the show, the teen thriller offered up a tenr moment episo three when they had closeted teen uple Vce (Alli Barn) and Ben (Nathaniel Ashton) share a moment at a secret gay bar. "The producers showed the clip where they go to the gay bar and they dance together, " Blake told E!

But I thk to show characters the '90s, Texas, a small town, like, that would've been so hard to be gay. Well, he explaed, "To see yourself reprented I thk is the most important thg, and I thk that this show is dog a good job at showg an hont, real, gay love story. For pilot season that year, and she'd told me she'd met Aubrey Plaza's gay boyiend om Parks and Recreatn.

Moved to 's how Cel Summer star Blake Lee, who ma history alongsi hband Ben Lewis by starrg Lifetime's first queer Christmas film, The Christmas Setup, felt watchg the gay love story unfold on the Freeform h. For those unfaiar wh the show, the teen thriller offered up a tenr moment episo three when they had closeted teen uple Vce (Alli Barn) and Ben (Nathaniel Ashton) share a moment at a secret gay bar.

SHOP THE BT OF 'THE RIGHT STUFF'!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHCULTUREBEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE ON LGBTQ REPRENTATN 'THE CHRISTMAS SETUP,' LIFETIME'S 1ST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE3:25STARS LIFETIME’S FIRST LGBTQ+ HOLIDAY MOVIE TALK BYCARSON BLACKWELR DECEMBER 07, 2020, 4:15 AMBEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE, THE REAL-LIFE MARRIED UPLE STARRG LIFETIME'S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE, "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," HOPE THIS IS "JT THE BEGNG" OF THE WORK BEG MORE CLIVE."WE'RE ONE OF A UPLE LGBTQ HOLIDAY FILMS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS CREDIBLE. TO HAVE A YEAR WHERE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE, 'S WILD," LEE, 37, TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI.""I HOPE THAT LIFETIME -- AND I THK THAT THEY WILL BEE THEY'VE BEEN SO GREAT ABOUT TELLG THIS STORY -- I HOPE THAT THEY DO TELL A STORY THAT CENTERS AROUND A TRANS PERSON OR A NON-BARY PERSON OR QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR," HE ADD. "I THK THAT THEY WILL AND I AM EXCED FOR THOSE STORI."LEWIS, 34, POTED OUT THE SIGNIFINCE OF A "FAY-IENDLY WORK" LIKE LIFETIME EXPANDG S STORYTELLG TO CLU LGBTQ PEOPLE.MORE: REAL-LIFE MARRIED GAY UPLE ST 1ST LIFETIME LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE"THIS IS JT A REALLY POWERFUL EXAMPLE THAT GAY PEOPLE AREN'T JT FAY-IENDLY, THEY ARE YOUR FAY. THEY'RE EVERY FAY, AND TO SEE THE GAY MUNY REPRENTED THIS TYPE OF MOVIE IS REALLY SIGNIFINT.""THE CHRISTMAS SETUP" -- WHICH PREMIER SATURDAY, DEC. 12, ON LIFETIME -- IS THE WORK'S FIRST TIME FEATURG A SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP AT THE RE OF ONE OF S "IT'S A WONRFUL LIFETIME" HOLIDAY MOVI. A SAME-SEX KISS WAS FEATURED 2019'S HOLIDAY OFFERG "TWKLE ALL THE WAY," BUT THAT RELATNSHIP WASN'T THE FILM'S CENTRAL FOC.BEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE STAR "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LIFETIME'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE.ALBERT CAMICLI/COURTY OF LIFETIMEIN "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," HUGO (LEWIS), A NEW YORK LAWYER, RETURNS HOME TO MILWKEE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WH HIS BT IEND, MALYN (ELLEN WONG). HIS MOTHER, KATE (FRAN DRCHER), CIS TO PLAY MATCHMAKER BETWEEN HIM AND HIS SECRET HIGH SCHOOL CSH, PATRICK (LEE), WHO RECENTLY MA BIG SILIN VALLEY. WHILE THEIR RELATNSHIP SPARKS, HUGO RECEIV A BIG PROMOTN WHICH WOULD REQUIRE HIM TO MOVE TO LONDON, FORCG HIM TO CI BETWEEN REER AND LOVE.THE PAIR ALSO DISCSED THEIR APPRECIATN OVER LIFETIME STRIVG TO THENTILLY REPRENT THE LGBTQ MUNY BY NOT JT STG GAY ACTORS TO PLAY GAY CHARACTERS, BUT BY CLUDG A GAY DIRECTOR, PAT MILLS, A GAY WRER, MICHAEL J. MURRAY, HAVG A GAY PERSON AT THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LEVEL AND NSULTG WH GLAAD THROUGHOUT THE MAKG OF THE FILM."I THK WE'RE BOTH VERY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL THAT THAT'S SORT OF THE WAY THAT THGS SEEM TO BE CULTURALLY SHIFTG," LEWIS NOTED. "THE LGBTQ+ DIENCE WANTS TO SEE THEMSELV REPRENTED AN THENTIC WAY AND, IF THEY DON'T, THEY'RE VERY VOL ABOUT .""AS WE SHOULD BE," LEE ADD.MORE: JONATHAN BENT TALKS LGBTQ REPRENTATN NEW HALLMARK MOVIE, 'THE CHRISTMAS HOE'BOTH ACTORS SAID THE "SURREAL" REALY OF THIS HISTORY-MAKG HOLIDAY FILM IS JT BEGNG TO SETTLE AND THEY FEEL "LUCKY" TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNY."WE'RE REALLY EXCED FOR FAI TO WATCH THIS MOVIE -- PECIALLY FAI THAT HAVE LGBTQ CHILDREN OR MEMBERS OF THE FAY, BUT ALSO JT FOR EVERYBODY," LEWIS SAID. "LGBTQ+ PEOPLE ARE PART OF SOCIETY … AND SERVE ALL THE RPECT AND REGNN THAT THEIR STRAIGHT UNTERPARTS HAVE ENJOYED FOR A LONG TIME."LEE NOTED THAT THIS MOVIE ISN'T ALL THAT DIFFERENT OM LIFETIME'S OTHER HOLIDAY PRODUCTNS. THE ONLY THG THAT MA "EXCEPTNAL" IS THAT 'S ABOUT TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX FALLG LOVE.THE ST OF "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LIFETIME'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE.ALBERT CAMICLI/COURTY OF LIFETIME"THE FACT THAT 'S TWO MEN AND THE FACT THAT 'S SO UNREMARKABLE IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST PROGRSIVE THGS ABOUT THE MOVIE," LEWIS ADD.WH NOBODY THE STORY HAVG AN ISSUE WH THE CHARACTERS BEG GAY, LEE SAID " WAS SO REHG AND SO NICE TO KD OF PE TO THAT WORLD, AND I THK THAT LGBTQ PEOPLE SERVE THAT STORY."WH A REAL-LIFE UPLE PLAYG ON-SCREEN LOVERS, THIS ALLOWED THE MOVIE TO AVOID THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO HAVE ROMANTIC SCEN AMID THE COVID-19 PANMIC. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE LIFETIME HOLIDAY MOVIE, "CHRISTMAS EVER AFTER," FEATURED THE FILM'S ACTORS KISSG WH A PLEXIGLASS BARRIER BETWEEN THEM THAT WOULD LATER BE REMOVED POST-PRODUCTN.MORE: 'TAKE OM ME': PROUD LGBTQ CELEBS SHARE THEIR MOST EMPOWERG ADVICE"I'M SO CUR TO SEE HOW THE PLEXIGLASS THG WORKED," LEE SAID. "I'M SURE 'LL LOOK GREAT BEE YOU N DO ANYTHG WH CGI, BUT WOULD FEEL SO WEIRD TO JT BE MAKG OUT WH A WDOW.""HONTLY," LEWIS CHIMED , "GETTG PAID TO KISS YOUR SPOE IS NOT THE WORST GIG THE WORLD."PL, THE FILM GAVE THE UPLE A CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOE AND BACK TO WORK DURG THE NATNWI LOCKDOWN.BEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE STAR "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LIFETIME'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY MOVIE.ALBERT CAMICLI/COURTY OF LIFETIME"IT WAS A MUCH-NEED ALTERNATE REALY FOR ," LEWIS SAID."AND PECIALLY A YEAR WHERE WE'RE NOT GOG HOME FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR," LEE POTED OUT, "SO WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS PERFECT CHRISTMAS WH FRAN DRCHER."AS FOR WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD RETURN A SEQUEL TO "THE CHRISTMAS SETUP," LEWIS SAID HE AT FIRST THOUGHT THIS WAS "SUCH A UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KD EXPERIENCE" BUT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO NEVER WANT THE RI TO STOP.MORE: TRANSGENR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE HONORS LIV LOST WHILE MARKG STAGGERG TONE"ALL OF WOULD DO AGA," LEE SAID. "THERE'S FELY A NVERSATN.""IF THE DIENCE HAS AS MUCH FUN WATCHG THE MOVIE AS WE HAD MAKG ," LEWIS ADD, "THEN WE'RE FELY HOPEFUL ABOUT G BACK.""THE CHRISTMAS SETUP" PREMIER SATURDAY, DEC. 12, ON LIFETIME.RELATED TOPICSLGBTQUP NEXT CULTURE—ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023ACTOR DANNY TREJO CELEBRAT 55 YEARS 'CLEAN AND SOBER'AUGT 25, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023ACTOR DANNY TREJO CELEBRAT 55 YEARS 'CLEAN AND SOBER'AUGT 25, 2023

Was there a nventn where TV and film executiv cid that this was the year to make the Yuleti gay? Murray, who are also both gay.

LIFETIME’S FIRST QUEER CHRISTMAS MOVIE STS REAL-LIFE MARRIED UPLE AS GAY LEADS AND IS TIME TO CRACK THE EGGNOG OUT YET?

The Queer Review’s edor Jam Klemann had an exclive nversatn wh hbands Ben Lewis and Blake Lee about reactns to the film so far, hopg that their real life chemistry would translate on screen, navigatg the entertament dtry as openly gay actors, workg wh gay in Fran Drcher, the importance of LGBTQ reprentatn, and seeg the movie as a love letter to mothers of gay sons and a Christmas gift to their own moms. There have been a lot of olr gay men that have said, ‘I watched this wh my partner and cried the whole time bee I never thought I would see a Lifetime movie that reprented my love’. We also acknowledge that we have a lot of privilege beg cis whe gay men and we’re very hopeful that we’re jt openg a door and that the g years we see holiday movi wh trans people and non bary people and queer people of lour bee this is jt the begng.

One of the thgs that stck me about The Christmas Setup is that the drama don’t e om eher one of the guys havg to e out to their fai or feelg unfortable about beg gay at home, and fact there’s a lot of faial acceptance. Murray, is a gay man and he has wrten a lot of holiday films, so he knows the genre well and I thk what really drew to was that fell le wh the classic stcture of Lifetime films and that the only difference was that the two lovers were men.

BIG BROTHER'S ALEX LEE OUT AS GAY AND REVEALS NEW LOOK

I love that they didn’t try to make a gay movie, they ma a holiday movie and st two men the leads.

Blake: “Ben and I were also pleasantly surprised when we saw the fished movie by how well the storyle of Edgar Carol, the guy that owned the town’s tra statn, and that gay love story om the past across. What has been like for each of you to navigate your reers as openly gay actors and what do you make of the current nversatn around gay actors playg gay rol? Maybe if I’d had a bigger break at a younger age ’s somethg that I would have stggled wh, but that break didn’t really e for me until I got st on Arrow when I was 32 and I was playg an openly gay character.

So I feel really grateful for never havg to al wh that aspect of the bs, which is not to say that I haven’t alt wh homophobia, probably more sublimal ways, bee I was never the closet I don’t know how many rol I potentially lost out on over the years. I’m gay and I have a hband!

MCGRATH: MIKE LEE, STOP POLICG GAY PARENTS

I’ve played straight people, I’ve played gay people, I’ve played asexual people. But we feel like this movie is the bt gift that we uld possibly give our fai, pecially our mothers, bee ’s really a love letter to mothers general, but specifilly mothers of gay sons.

Never a ln years did we thk that we would do a movie wh her, she’s a gay in and was jt credible. I remember seeg the movie and then a few days later readg an terview wh him where he was talkg about beg an openly gay actor, which at that time—we’re talkg 1997— pletely blew my md that you uld have a reer and be out and be your thentic self and jt have a really good time. Livg at a time when gay men were dyg all around him, he was this queer artist who was polil and an activist and sex posive and he was so smart and so young.

Long cricized for lackg diversy, The Christmas Setup is the first gay-themed om Lifetime. Ben Lewis & Blake Lee: Gay, Datg, Weddg.