Jonathan Bennett and Vincent Rodriguez III are fast becoming icons of the queer Christmas content!
Bennett, who starred in the network’s first holiday film to feature an LGBTQ+ storyline (The Christmas House) and first LGBTQ+-led Christmas film (The Holiday Sitter), and Vincent Rodriguez III, who stars in the Prime Video holiday-themed series With Love, are teaming up to play the latest gay couple in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Also starring Catherin Bell, John Brotherton, Erin Cahill, and James Denton, Christmas on Cherry Lane sees three stories intertwining: a young couple preparing for their first child, an empty nester and her fiance ready to start a new chapter in life, and a couple (Bennett and Rodriguez III) “who unexpectedly have the chance to expand their family on Christmas Eve.”
For queer women, Hallmark also has an all-new lesbian romantic comedy coming out this Christmas.
Friends & Family Christmas sees queer Canadian actor Ali Liebert and queer Ginny & Georgia star Humberly Gonzalez taking part in the beloved “fake dating” trope.
“Daniella (Gonzalez) has recently moved to New York to pursue an art career and decides to stay in town to share the holidays with her circle of artist friends, instead of going home to see her sweet, if overbearing parents,” the description reads. “Amelia (Liebert) is a talented entertainment lawyer trying to stay focused on her work after a broken engagement.”
Of course, the two are set up on a date by their parents and agree to pretend to go through with it just to appease them for the holidays. “However,” the description continues, “as they spend time in each other’s worlds, they soon build a connection that is deeper than either of them could have hoped for.”
Christmas on Cherry Lane debuts on Saturday, December 9 at 8/7c, and Friends & Family Christmas debuts Sunday, December 17 at 8/7c.