Hallmark To Air Its First LGBTQ+-Centric Christmas Movie
September 26, 2022Hallmark just announced its Christmas lineup, and the network's first LGBTQ+-centric holiday movie is finally here, Pride reports.
The Holiday Sitter will star Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa. Hallmark has released the following synopsis:
“Sam is a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town. Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason and finds himself in an unexpected romance.”
While The Holiday Sitter will be the network’s first Christmas movie centered around a same-sex couple, it isn’t the first to include LGBTQ+ characters.
The Christmas House premiered on the family-friendly network in 2020, but was an ensemble movie about a heterosexual couple inviting their adult sons, one of whom was married to a man, also played by Bennett, home for Christmas.
Hallmark also released a movie earlier this year called Love, Classified that featured Katherine McNamara and Arienne Mandi as love interests. It didn't receive the promotion or fanfare the network generally gives its Christmas movies and the two queer characters were not the main focus of this movie.
After years of heteronormativity and controversies surrounding inclusion at the network, a single LGBQT+ release in the lineup of 40 doesn’t feel like much. But many hope that this is truly the start of a more welcoming holiday season at Hallmark for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Holiday Sitter will premiere on The Hallmark Channel on December 11.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Hallmark Channel Confirms Film Featuring A Lesbian Wedding
‘One Million Moms’ Boycott ‘Hallmark Channel’ After Ad Featuring Lesbian Kiss
‘Lifetime’ Announces First LGBT+ Romance Christmas Movie
Keep up to date with the latest myGnews