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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 X" 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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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="83rive"></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="rwf7pk"></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 data-ttid="RowWrapper" 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="6r7c2w"></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="zs0cfg"></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-44"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most Popular</div><ul 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SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Answers & Advice</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">What Do It Mean to Be Demiromantic?</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi 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">Erika Owen</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="n1ug8g"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div data-ttid="RowWrapper" 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="sqrpd"></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="sm51ul"></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-45"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most 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data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">This Free Streamg Service Has a Ton of Great LGBTQ+ Movi — Wh No Ads</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi 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 Allen</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff dWIojf summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false 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summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz hlQxkn"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="What Do It Mean to Be Demiromantic?" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl clSLtF summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Answers & Advice</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">What Do It Mean to Be Demiromantic?</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi hYsZi 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">Erika Owen</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="u5mexm"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div data-ttid="RowWrapper" 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="uq24mk"></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="kerawf"></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><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 PaywallInleBarrierWhWrapperGrid-fyrGfS kLQIUk grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__le-barrier article__body"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"><asi class="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper-iBnuqk lfXXa-D" data-ttid="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper"><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--paywall-le-barrier" role="prentatn" aria-live="pole" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--paywall-le-barrier"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></asi></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ContentWrapperGrid-fvkmBv brYtrA grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em 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is aaron samuels gay

Mean Girls star Daniel Franze has revealed that he and Jonathan Bent me out to each other as gay durg filmg of the classic edy.

Contents:

DID YOU KNOW ALL THE 'MEAN GIRLS' GUYS ARE GAY NOW?

"Beg a closeted gay teen heartthrob, livg misery, I never would have thought a ln years that one day I would be on the ver of the biggt weddg magaze the world wh my fiancé, who I love, a picture that is pure pri and joy, " Bent tells Yahoo Life.

"While the uple has been livg loudly and proudly sce gettg together 2017, the impact of Bent's exposure as a gay man isn't lost on Vghan.

JONATHAN BENT SAYS HE AND HIS FIANCé WERE REJECTED BY WEDDG VENUE FOR BEG GAY

""We want to make sure that we help to intify bs and vendors that gay upl n go to om the moment they want to get engaged until their honeymoon and fd plac where they're safe and celebrated, " Vghan 's for this exact reason that the uple also teamed up to create OUTbound — a travel pany lookg to create memorable excursns for the LGBTQ muny.

His tanks play on inic l om the movie, such as "On Wedndays we wear rabows" and "Too gay to functn.

JONATHAN BENT ON LEADG HALLMARK’S FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS MOVIE

"I'm also proud of Mean Girls bee was — for this generatn — one of the first movi to have a predomantly gay character that was one of the leads, " Bent explaed. Did You Know All the 'Mean Girls' Guys Are Gay Now? Markets open 9 hours 30 mutS&P Futur Dow Futur Nasdaq Futur Rsell 2000 Futur C Oil Gold Silver EUR/USD 10-Yr Bond Vix GBP/USD USD/JPY B USD CMC Crypto 200 FTSE 100 Nikkei 225 Did You Know All the 'Mean Girls' Guys Are Gay Now?

Seventeen years after s release, the film is still quoted and meme'd to this day, cementg as a staple of pop while 's certaly bee a part of gay non, a movie that impacted nearly every LGBTQ+ person of a certa age, did you know that the ma three male characters the film have all e out as gay? That news has gone viral over at Buzzfeed, who piled the g outs of each Mean Girls actor earlier this Franze, who played Damian the film, me out as gay then, Franze has been an important voice for LGBTQ+ rights and appeared on queer shows like Lookg and RuPl's Drag Race.

'MEAN GIRLS' STAR JONATHAN BENT SAID HE AND HIS FIANCé WERE REJECTED BY A WEDDG VENUE BEE THEY'RE GAY

He didn't e out as gay himself until 2017.

He even reprised his role as Aaron Samuels for a quick meo Ariana Gran's "thank u, next" mic to round out the list, Rajiv Surendra, who played Kev G, me out as gay 2018 to KajalMag. "I know full well that if I was an openly gay actor, there was no way I’d be nsired for the role of a sixteen-year-old relig Indian kid a movie that Fox was puttg $100 ln to, " he said the terview.

"We're so grateful to all the st for makg Mean Girls even gayer than already was! Jonathan Bent went om livg the closet durg the release of "Mean Girls" to signg -- and proudly wearg -- a tank top embracg one of the movie's most inic l: "Too Gay to Functn.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* IS AARON SAMUELS GAY

Did You Know All the 'Mean Girls' Guys Are Gay Now? .

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