November 18, 2020
Watch: Jonathan Bennett Says It's An 'Honor' to Star in Hallmark's Gay Holiday Movie
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Out "Mean Girls" star Jonathan Bennett, co-hosting on the Nov. 17 episode of Entertainment Tonight, declared it "an honor" to be in "The Christmas House," the Hallmark Channel's first Christmas movie to feature a same-sex couple.
"This will be so important because it feels like I'm part of progress, and it feels good," Bennett told co-host Lauren Zima.
"Representation is so important, right?" Bennett continued. "And to represent this storyline on Hallmark Channel - it's, it's an honor."
Bennett went on to say that the film would be important to LGBTQ youth, as well.
"To see a movie like that, where you see yourself on screen is so important, and I think this Christmas younger me is going to be a little bit less scared and feel a little more seen," the actor said. "Especially with what's going on in 2020, this is going to be a little bit of hope and a little bit of love that everyone can watch."
"The Christmas House" centers on a gay couple, Brandon and Jake (played by Bennett and Brad Harder), as they visit Brandon's parents for Christmas while waiting for word about their adoption.
The film is part of this holiday season's slate of inclusive programming. Lifetime also has a Christmas movie featuring a gay couple coming up, "The Christmas Setup," starring Ben Lewis ("Shadowhunters") and his real-life husband, Blake Lee ("Parks and Recreation").
Follow this link to see Bennett and Zima's conversation on "Entertainment Tonight," and watch the preview for "The Christmas House" below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
