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data-ttid="ContentHearContaer" class="ContentHearContaer-cGKRbE knDxNq"><div class="ContentHearHedAccredatnWrapper-GFiQf cDNVlV"><div data-ttid="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper" class="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper-cjmSKp eiGjZk"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubric" class="ContentHearRubricBlock-LmpbT tPofh"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubricDateBlock" class="ContentHearRubricDateBlock-kAQcZP fTFWxD"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric ContentHearRubricContaer-eTudtt iRsSlw"><a class="RubricLk-gRWSOU cwyjHY bric__lk" href="/entertament/tv-and-movi"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">TV and Movi</span></a></div></div></div><h1 data-ttid="ContentHearHed" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearHed-NCyCC iUEiRd jdcWfa isouMH">Jonathan Bent On Leadg Hallmark’s First Gay Christmas Movie</h1></div><div class="ContentHearAccredatn-lfctVB etVsnJ ntent-hear__accredatn" data-ttid="ContentHearAccredatn"><div class="ContentHearDek-bIqFFZ eijTxK">The actor talks to Them about <em>The Holiday Ster,</em> Candace Cameron Bure, and a <em>Mean Girls</em> sequel.</div><div class="ContentHearByle-kmPyCa emiglw"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC rponsive-image"><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 80w" siz="66px"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 90w" siz="66px"/><img alt="" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></span><div class="ContentHearByleContent-dpPmNn DRFq"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl ContentHearByl-cZqgyJ bHLeKI"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH hdWCIC byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ByleLk-gEnFiw iUEiRd hSmufO skIR eErqIx byle__name-lk button" href="/ntributor/juan-velasquez">Juan Velasquez</a></span></span></p></div><time data-ttid="ContentHearPublishDate" dateTime="2022-12-09T10:13:24-05:00" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearPublishDate-eIBicG iUEiRd dCoEhu bDGyxQ">December 9, 2022</time></div></div><div class="SocialInsWrapper-hKMEXV ffgPVr social-ins social-ins--standard ContentHearAccredatnSocialIns-jorO fPzfaa ntent-hear__social-share"><ul data-ttid="socialInslist" class="SocialInsList-cHVTIA ivmblD social-ins__list"><li class="SocialInsListItem-mbhR fxaFQj social-ins__list-em social-ins__list-em--twter social-ins__list-em--standard"><a aria-label="Share on Twter" class="external-lk SocialInExternalLk-huuzOU blkfJb social-ins__lk social-ins__lk--twter" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" 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social-ins__lk--email" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"mailto:?subject=Jonathan%20Bent%20On%20Leadg%20Hallmark%E2%80%99s%20First%20Gay%20Christmas%20Movie&" href="mailto:?subject=Jonathan%20Bent%20On%20Leadg%20Hallmark%E2%80%99s%20First%20Gay%20Christmas%20Movie& rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><div class="SocialInContaer-huXzUC pMzVC social-ins__in-ntaer"><svg class="SocialInNetworkInComponent-cZaKGz dlOAhZ in in-email" focable="false" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32" xmlns="><tle>Email</tle><path d="M6 23h20V9H6v14zm3.631-12H22.37l-6.368 5.661L9.631 11zM24 12.227V21H8v-8.773l8.002 7.109L24 12.227z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></asi></hear></div><div data-attribute-verso-pattern="article-body" class="ArticlePageContentBackGround-cNiFNN kJkLmH article-body__ntent"><div class="ArticlePageChunksContent-etcMtP bwyLBj"><div data-ttid="ArticlePageChunks" class="ArticlePageChunks-fLyCVG eOdfIs"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>One of the first thgs Jonathan Bent do when we get on Zoom is roast himself for movg away om Los Angel.</p><p>“I moved to Palm Sprgs bee I’m 40 and gay,” the <em>Mean Girls</em> star tells me, wh a wi se. “They kicked me out of Wt Hollywood when I h 40.”</p><p>Known for playg Aaron Samuels, the most popular guy at North Shore High, the charmg and enthiastic Bent speaks wh the sort of jokg faiary rerved for a cherished acquatance. His irreverence and sills echo on the screen his latt film: Hallmark Channel’s first queer-led Christmas rom-, <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>The Holiday Ster</em></a><em>.</em> Bent is no stranger to the work, as he's starred and appeared several of Hallmark’s ftive films, cludg both <em>The Christmas Hoe</em> and <em>Christmas Ma to Orr.</em> As an executive producer on this most recent project, Bent says he went to the work wh an trigug elevator pch: “What if we ma <em>Uncle Buck</em> but he was gay?"</p><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><p>As turns out, Bent mak que the Guncle Buck real life. When the actor first started watchg his iend’s children, he wasn’t exactly the ial babyster. “I was such a fish out of water,” he rells.“ I was like, ‘How much do they eat? Do you feed them pizza?’”</p><div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-mid-ntent" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-mid-ntent nsumer-marketg-un__slot---ntent"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><p>On the surface, <em>The Holiday Ster</em> might look like jt another Christmas movie on Hallmark’s seemgly fe offergs of zy holiday <a href=" target="_blank">rom-s</a>. The film has some of the genre’s well-worn trop, cludg a protagonist who leav their by life the cy for more pastoral environs and then falls love. But what mak <em>The Holiday Ster</em> stand out is reprentatn, and not simply bee of the queer romantic storyle. On a eper level, the film isn't jt about fdg love, but also about unlearng negative, antiquated ias about startg a fay as a queer person — a theme that ronated wh Bent personally.</p><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad---ntent"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot---ntent" data-no-id="7ubxrq"></div></div><p>“There’s still this ltle voice the back of my md that’s like, ‘Oh no, this marriage and fay thg isn’t for you,” he tells me. “Bee that’s what I grew up hearg, and my character feels the same way.”</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-1 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p>Even as he works on his new slate of projects — cludg <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">a podst</a>, which he hosts wh his hband, and several films — Bent don’t md chattg about <em>Mean Girls</em> and his gratu for the film’s LGBTQ+ fandom; there is even a ltle nod to the cult favore  <em>The Holiday Ster</em>. But before Bent me out himself, he was worried the movie’s fans wouldn’t accept him, unaware of the outpourg of support that would soon follow.</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB kNleGZ sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="1023t7"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="iunj3a"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>“They thought of me as Aaron Samuels,” he rells. ”And God forbid they would fd out that Aaron Samuels lik dus.” </p><p>Ahead of the televisn premiere of <em>The Holiday Ster</em>, Bent spoke wh <em>Them</em> (alongsi his adorable Golndoodle <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Yass</a>) about the holidays, the power of LGBTQ+ reprentatn, and what a <em>Mean Girls</em> reboot might look like.</p><figure class="AssetEmbedWrapper-eVDQiB byBkf asset-embed"><div class="AssetEmbedAssetContaer-eJxoAx dBHGoQ asset-embed__asset-ntaer"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset rponsive-image"><noscript><img alt="Jonathan Bent on ‘The Holiday Ster Candace Cameron Bure and a ‘Mean Girls Sequel" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w, 1280w, 1600w" siz="100vw"/></noscript></picture></span></div><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE hTTfoq ptn AssetEmbedCaptn-fNQBPI fmQnYP asset-embed__ptn"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd eNhSMp fNaHcW ptn__cred">Hallmark Channel</span></div></figure><p><strong>Your character Sam is a bachelor who crg at the ia of a tradnal life. How much of yourself did you brg to this character?</strong></p><p>I was fely Sam at one pot my life. I didn’t ever thk of gettg married or startg a fay until I met my hband then everythg changed. When I found someone who would love me for who I was, ma me realize that I wanted to marry this person, which was somethg I never thought I’d want to do. </p><p>Also, a big reason why I never really thought about gettg married or havg a fay is that I grew up not seeg reprentatn of what my love looked like on TV or movi. There’s still this ltle voice si of me the back of my head that’s like, “Oh no, this marriage and a fay thg isn’t for you.” Bee that’s what I grew up hearg, and my character feels the same way. I thk so many people are gog to relate to that when they see .</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="c1wml"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RecircMostPopularConter-jiViNn ktrplG recirc-most-popular-sparrow-trackg hi-asi-ad" data-most-popular-id="mod-most-popular-418"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most Popular</div><ul 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data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Samantha Riel</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw gmWMTZ ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="mac6ba"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="5poko"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p><strong>Holiday movi general are mostly stubbornly heteronormative and recently</strong> <a href=" target="_blank"><strong>Candace Cameron Bure</strong></a> <strong>has mented about leavg Hallmark for a work that “will keep tradnal marriage at s re,” which only unrsr that ristance to change. What do you thk is about the holiday season that mak a bastn for that sentiment?</strong></p><p>What’s so powerful about what Hallmark Channel is dog is ’s tellg stori about the holidays that are for everybody — bee the holidays are for everyone — and creatg a space that’s safe where people feel seen. I’m jt so proud to be part of of a place that is dog clive programmg bee ’s so important as a gay man myself, to see what my love looks like onscreen next to everybody else. I’m jt so proud to stand wh Hallmark, and make clive programmg bee ’s fun to stand on the right si of history.</p><figure class="AssetEmbedWrapper-eVDQiB byBkf asset-embed"><div class="AssetEmbedAssetContaer-eJxoAx dBHGoQ asset-embed__asset-ntaer"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa AssetEmbedRponsiveAsset-cXBNxi eCxVQK asset-embed__rponsive-asset rponsive-image"><noscript><img alt="Jonathan Bent on ‘The Holiday Ster Candace Cameron Bure and a ‘Mean Girls Sequel" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w, 1280w, 1600w" siz="100vw"/></noscript></picture></span></div><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE hTTfoq ptn AssetEmbedCaptn-fNQBPI fmQnYP asset-embed__ptn"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd eNhSMp fNaHcW ptn__cred">Hallmark Channel</span></div></figure><p><strong>How do you thk the film will be received by Hallmark Channel movie fans?</strong> </p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-2 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p><em>The Holiday Ster</em> is about two men fallg love, and the story is for everyone. As an executive producer, we were very reful when creatg this story to make sure that this isn’t jt for queer dience. So even if you are a straight uple, there are still quali each of the characters of Sam and Jason that you n intify wh. I thk the biggt reason people are gog to fall love wh is bee ’s such a broad edy for the work.</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="17roof"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RecircMostPopularConter-jiViNn ktrplG recirc-most-popular-sparrow-trackg hi-asi-ad" data-most-popular-id="mod-most-popular-419"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most 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class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">News</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ jbVqqA summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Kentucky's Ban on Care for Trans Mors Can Stand, a Feral Appeals Court Ruled</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Samantha Riel</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw gmWMTZ ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="pvxp7d"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="xsf4h6"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>I n only speak for myself, but om my experience, but Hallmark has created a safe space for queer filmmakers to tell stori. That is the biggt, most powerful thg you n do as a work: Create a space where your queer storytellers n approach you wh ias and not only do they help you, but they shepherd and gui and make a prry to make sure you’re tellg the story you want to tell, and then ’s done wh re and wh grace.</p><asi aria-hidn="te" class="PullQuoteEmbedWrapper-sc-EoVjf fQbAzo"><div class="PullQuoteDerativeBorr-sc-iUyOLj fAzNVP"></div><div class="PullQuoteEmbedContent-sc-kTcfhx eoUd"><p>“I’m jt so proud to stand wh Hallmark, and make clive programmg bee ’s fun to stand on the right si of history.”</p></div></asi><p><strong>I n always enjoy Hallmark movi and rom-s for what they are. But I did feel more nnected to this one. I didn’t realize how much I was missg that.</strong></p><p>That’s bee reprentatn matters. When I thk about the younger versn of myself at 15 years old stg his parents’ hoe watchg Christmas movi and <em>The Holiday Ster</em> on? Are you kiddg? Can you image how seen and how safe ltle Jonathan is gog to feel? It’s also important for to make movi that have LGBTQ+ storyl, that are safe enough to watch wh your entire fay for the younger generatn of queer kids. It’s fun to have R-rated films, they make lgh, but havg somethg for the whole fay is credibly important.</p><div class="GenericCalloutWrapper-tojWn iezhXq llout--has-top-borr" data-ttid="GenericCallout"><div class="ContentCardEmbedWrapper-kULtsE iGAJsG ntent-rd-embed ntent-rd-embed--stacked" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedWrapper"><div class="ContentCardEmbedImage-iwqgVw jlIubp ntent-rd-embed__image" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedImage"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa rponsive-image"><img alt="article image" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src=" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/></picture></span></div><div class="ContentCardEmbedInfo-bDftKl bGnSrq"><div class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentCardEmbedHed-kJVPGC iUEiRd gFmvMS cewqFA ntent-rd-embed__hed" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedHed"><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ContentCardEmbedHedLk-eXLwe iUEiRd gFmvMS hRaEiJ eFUKSb ntent-rd-embed__hed-lk" href="/story/gay--my-md-7-christmas-movi" data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedHedLk">7 Christmas Movi That Are Gay My Md</a></div><div data-ttid="ContentCardEmbedDek" class="ContentCardEmbedDek-bA-DKch hXdQfY">In the absence of a queer holiday non, viewers mt e a ltle imagatn.</div></div></div></div><p><strong>I’d be remiss not to mentn that I loved the</strong> <em><strong>Mean Girls</strong></em> <strong>reference the movie.  Was that your ia?</strong> </p><p>I wanted to pay homage to the <em>Mean Girls</em> fans. I wouldn’t be who I am today whout all their unwaverg love and support. I grew up Hollywood when I was my twenti and I had to live the closet. I lived fear every day of my life bee I was aaid that if people found out who I was would be the end of my reer. When I me out publicly wh my hband a few years ago, we had unndnal support om the <em>Mean Girls</em> fans, who I feared were gog to reject me. Bee they thought of me as Aaron Samuels. And God forbid they would fd out that Aaron Samuels lik dus. They wouldn’t be able to watch the movie the same way. </p><p>But was pletely the oppose. It was an outpourg of love and excement that I was livg my tth. So I wanted to put that ltle easter egg as kd of a thank you and a nod to the <em>Mean Girls</em> fans. Bee here I am starrg the first queer-led Hallmark film, which is somethg that I’m so proud of, but ed to be so sred of.</p><p><strong>What did you thk about Ldsay Lohan sayg that the Mean Girl sequel is i</strong><a href=" target="_blank"><strong>n Ta Fey’s hands</strong></a><strong>?</strong></p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-3 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p>I’m not gog to talk about that, bee we kissed the rg and we said, “Whatever you want to do, Ta.”  It’d be fun to see where the characters are today. And maybe they’re grown up and have kids of their own, and maybe those kids are now high school. I would totally be to .</p><p><a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Holiday Ster</a> <em>premier Sunday Dec 11 on Hallmark Channel.</em></p><p><em><strong>Get the bt of what’s queer.</strong></em> <a href=" target="_blank">Sign up for <em>Them</em>’s weekly newsletter here.</a></p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="uo0o3a"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div 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class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/lgbtq-queer-celebry-halloween-stum-2022" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">23 Queer Celebry Costum That Ma Us Gay Gag</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" 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class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Entertament</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/hallmark-channel-first-gay-themed-movie-mean-girls-jonathan-bent" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">The Hallmark Channel's First Gay-Themed Movie Stars 'Mean Girls' Jonathan Bent</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div 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hallmark babysitter movie gay

The "Mean Girls" actor will star "The Christmas Hoe," a holiday film about a gay uple lookg to adopt their first child.

Contents:

JONATHAN BENT WANTED TO CREATE A GAY UNCLE BUCK FOR THE HOLIDAY STER

Jonathan Bent talks makg history wh his gay-led Hallmark movie 'The Holiday Ster.' * hallmark babysitter movie gay *

In the movie, which buts Sunday, Bent plays Sam, a gay guy whose personal life suffers at the st of his profsnal life — work over marriage.

'" Add to the formula the actor's love of the '80s classic Uncle Buck starrg John Candy, pl his sire to see a movie that was "really thentic to what 's like beg a gay man 2022. " And that turned to me and my love for Uncle Buck, the movie wh John Candy that I grew up on, and I kd of put those ias together and I said, "What if Uncle Buck was gay? Sam is beg really thentic to what 's like beg a gay man 2022 and what that experience is.

As gay men, we're navigatg what our liv look like wh kids, or gettg married, or whout kids, and 's not black or whe — there's so many different avenu to startg a fay and havg a chosen fay. Somethg I found so funny is how Sam realiz that Jason is gay — when Jason ments on Sam's sho.

THE HOLIDAY STER: 7+ THOUGHTS I HAD WHILE WATCHG HALLMARK'S NEW GAY ROM-COM

The Hallmark Channel is known for s chey but heartwarmg Christmas movi. This year, the channel cid to diversify s sts by featurg s first openly gay lead uple. * hallmark babysitter movie gay *

Like, "Oh wow, he is gay.

Hallmark is ready to make history wh The Holiday Ster, the work’s first-ever holiday rom wh a gay uple the lead rol.

Sam postpon his holiday Hawaii and hightails to the suburbs where he meets Jason DeVo (Gee Krissa), Kathleen’s handsome, sgle, and gay neighbor. You uld also wa until Friday, December 16 and pair The Holiday Ster wh Lifetime’s gay romance Christmas movie, A Christmas to Treasure (starrg real life spo Taylor Frey and Kyle Dean Massey). Like I said about The Christmas Hoe 2020, cludg queer people (which, BTW, should clu more than jt cis, whe, gay men) fay ntent like holiday movi helps the “gay agenda” tremendoly — the “gay agenda” beg wantg to… ntue to exist.

JONATHAN BENT ON LEADG HALLMARK’S FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS MOVIE

Hallmark’s first Christmas romance movie starrg a gay uple is set to warm our hearts this holiday season The Holiday Ster. * hallmark babysitter movie gay *

The other major succs: this is a storyle that uld only be done wh a gay uple. The Holiday Ster is a Christmas movie about the credibly unique bond between gay men and their niec and nephews — fay members who have long stood for children due to the hurdl facg gay upl or gay men lookg to adopt. Hallmark has donned the gay apparel, y’all.

HALLMARK PREMIER S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE WH A GAY LEAD UPLE

In 2020, Hallmark buted s first same-sex uple, and now the work’s evolutn has led to an entire rom- wh a gay uple as the foc. The Holiday Ster buted on Hallmark on December Christmas Hoe was the first Hallmark movie to feature a gay uple promently, but The Holiday Ster is their first film centered around a gay uple.

Clearly, The Holiday Ster was always wrten (or at least altered) wh a gay uple md. In an terview wh Out, Bent reflected on the fact that he's the face of gay holiday movi as of 2022. "Am I the gay Kg of Christmas?

HALLMARK'S 'HOLIDAY STER' SHOWS -STARS' SPARKS S FIRST GAY LEADS HOLIDAY MOVIE

"In the movie, Bent plays Sam, a gay man who babyss his niece and nephew durg the holidays and asks for help om a handsome neighbor, Jason, played by Gee Krissa. However, ’s a good first step that there are even enough movi for me to create this list of Hallmark movi wh gay characters. Most gay characters and upl the movi are whe and male.

Let’s be clear, as of the start of 2021, no Hallmark movie has featured gay characters as leads. No matter what official Hallmark reps say, The Christmas Hoe and Mix Up the Mederranean do not feature gay leads.

While I tly enjoyed The Christmas Hoe and loved seeg the happily married gay uple, they played send-fiddle to the ma straight uple’s romantic storyle. It jt so happens that Jeremy Jordan, who is playg that straight man is also playg his gay tw. This do not qualify as a gay lead character, and dog the bare mimum isn’t enarg Hallmark to anyone.

HALLMARK'S FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS MOVIE IS HERE — AND GEE KRISSA IS OVERJOYED TO BE A PART OF

The only memorable thg about this movie was one of the only tim a Hallmark character has said “I am gay. Y, back 2012, Hallmark premiered a Christmas movie which the sister proclaimed she was gay. At first, I thought was jt a way to keep a man om htg on her, but an earlier scene shows that she actually is gay.

It also had the most subtle ht of a gay uple I have ever seen on TV. This movie also marks the first time a gay uple has shared an on-screen kiss on any Hallmark work.

Though there is no POC love tert as of yet, Dani McKellar’s Kayleigh was given a gay bt iend, which for Hallmark is a gigantic step forward.

SAVE OR SPEND: WARDROBE PICKS FOR YOUR BUDGETOPEN 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.SEARCHCULTUREHALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'2:14HALLMARK CHANNEL BYGOOD MORNG AMERIJULY 16, 2020, 7:15 PM•3 M READHALLMARK MOVI WILL BE MORE DIVERSE THE NEAR FUTURE.ON THURSDAY, AMID CRICISM THAT NONE OF THE PANY'S 40 UPG HOLIDAY MOVI FEATURE AN LGBTQ LEAD, A HALLMARK CHANNEL SPOKPERSON TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" THAT CHANGE IS G.IN THE G MONTHS, THE REPRENTATIVE SAID, HALLMARK WILL MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT "PROJECTS FEATURG LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS.""DIVERSY AND CLN IS A TOP PRRY FOR ," READ THE PANY'S STATEMENT. "WE ARE MTED TO CREATG A HALLMARK EXPERIENCE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELE."EDOR’S PICKSHALLMARK CHANNEL SCHL MARATHON OF FEEL-GOOD HOLIDAY MOVI AMID MASS SELF-QUARANTEMAR 19, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG GAY-THEMED WEDDG ADDEC 15, 2019THE BT HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVI, ACRDG TO EXPERTS DEC 25, 2018LAST YEAR, HALLMARK APOLOGIZED FOR REMOVG A ZOLA MERCIAL THAT FEATURED A GAY UPLE AMID PLATS OM ONE MILLN MOMS, A NSERVATIVE GROUP THAT IS A PART OF THE AMERIN FAY ASSOCIATN. HALLMARK'S PARENT PANY, CROWN MEDIA, ALSO VOWED TO PARTNER WH LGBTQ ADVOCY GROUP GLAAD "TO BETTER REPRENT THE LGBTQ MUNY ACROSS OUR PORTFOL OF BRANDS.""THE CROWN MEDIA TEAM HAS BEEN AGONIZG OVER THIS CISN AS WE'VE SEEN THE HURT HAS UNTENTNALLY ED. SAID SIMPLY, THEY BELIEVE THIS WAS THE WRONG CISN," HALLMARK CARDS CEO MIKE PERRY SAID A STATEMENT AT THE TIME. "WE ARE TLY SORRY FOR THE HURT AND DISAPPOTMENT THIS HAS ED.""ACROSS OUR BRAND, WE WILL NTUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE MORE CLIVE AND CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENC," HE ADD.MORE: HALLMARK MEDIA CEO LEAV, MONTH AFTER SAME-SEX AD BACKLASHHALLMARK'S "COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS" MOVI AND HALLMARK MOVI & MYSTERI' ANCHISE "MIRACL OF CHRISTMAS" WILL KICK OFF FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23. SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS CLU: HALLMARK CHANNEL· "A ROYAL HOLIDAY," STARRG LRA OSN, AARON TVE AND KRYSTAL JOY BROWN· "JGLE BELL BRI," STARRG JULIE GONZALO AND RONNIE ROWE· "A CHRISTMAS TREE GROWS BROOKLYN," STARRG ROCHELLE AYT AND MARK TAYLOR· "IF I ONLY HAD CHRISTMAS," STARRG CANDACE CAMERON BURE· "DELIVER BY CHRISTMAS," STARRG ALVA AUGT AND EN BAILEY· "ON THE 12TH DATE OF CHRISTMAS," STARRG MALLORY JANSEN AND TYLER HYN· "CHRISTMAS WALTZ," STARRG LACEY CHABERT· "CHRISTMAS VIENNA," STARRG SARAH DREW AND BRENNAN ELLTT· "CHRISTMAS EVERGREEN 4," STARRG RIYA BERNARD AND HOLLY ROBSON PEETE· "CHATE CHRISTMAS," STARRG MERRT PATTERSON AND LE MACFARLANE· "CROSS COUNTRY CHRISTMAS," STARRG RACHAEL LEIGH COOK· "CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL," STARRG TAMERA MOWRY-HOLEY· "WHEN CALLS THE HEART CHRISTMAS 2020," STARRG ER KRAKOW, PASLE HUTTON, JACK WAGNER, KAVAN SMH, CHRIS MCNALLY, KEV MCGARRY, PL GREENE, ANDREA BROOKS AND MART CUMMSHALLMARK MOVI & MYSTERI· "CHRISTMAS TREE LANE," STARRG ALICIA WT AND ANDREW WALKER· "HOLLY & IVY," STARRG JANEL PARRISH, JEREMY JORDAN, AND MARISOL NICHOLS· "THE CHRISTMAS BOW," STARRG LUCIA MIRELLI AND MICHAEL RADY· "CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS," STARRG NIKKI DELOACH AND BENJAM AYR· "CHRISTMAS DOCTOR," STARRG HOLLY ROBSON PEETEEDOR’S PICKSHALLMARK CHANNEL SCHL MARATHON OF FEEL-GOOD HOLIDAY MOVI AMID MASS SELF-QUARANTEMAR 19, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG GAY-THEMED WEDDG ADDEC 15, 2019THE BT HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVI, ACRDG TO EXPERTS DEC 25, 2018UP NEXT CULTURE—LUPA NYONG'O REMEMBERS CHADWICK BOSEMAN EMOTNAL TRIBUTE 3 YEARS AFTER HIS ATHAUGT 28, 2023MILEY CYS ON HOW HER PERSPECTIVE ON FAME AND SUCCS IS DIFFERENT OM HER DADAUGT 28, 2023KHLOE KARDASHIAN SHAR SWEET PHOTO WH HER 2 KIDS: 'MOMMY'S CUBS'AUGT 28, 2023'DANCG WH THE STARS' JUDGE DEREK HOUGH MARRI HAYLEY ERBERTAUGT 28, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—LUPA NYONG'O REMEMBERS CHADWICK BOSEMAN EMOTNAL TRIBUTE 3 YEARS AFTER HIS ATHAUGT 28, 2023MILEY CYS ON HOW HER PERSPECTIVE ON FAME AND SUCCS IS DIFFERENT OM HER DADAUGT 28, 2023KHLOE KARDASHIAN SHAR SWEET PHOTO WH HER 2 KIDS: 'MOMMY'S CUBS'AUGT 28, 2023'DANCG WH THE STARS' JUDGE DEREK HOUGH MARRI HAYLEY ERBERTAUGT 28, 2023

My only knock on the movie is how Hallmark attempted to market as the work’s first movie wh gay leads.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* HALLMARK BABYSITTER MOVIE GAY

Jonathan Bent Talks Starrg Hallmark's 1st Gay-Led Holiday Film .

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