Queering Christmas: LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies to Watch!
Tags: Christmas Movies, Movies, LGBTQ, Christmas, Holidays

Admittedly, 2020 has certainly not been an easy year. This year has been emotionally draining for most of us and it has been difficult feeling festive this Christmas. However, a good movie under a warm blanket as the snow falls, is a good way to get into the joyous mood. We have survived so far and even though we might not be able to party it up and drink the eggnog with our families and friends, we can still have a fun Christmas movie marathon. This year we are lucky to have amazing LGBTQ+ Christmas movies, which is normally not the case. Here are some of the LGTBQ+ Christmas movies that are bound to lift your spirits.

❥ A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS WEDDING

This film is currently streaming on Netflix and tells a story of what if? The film follows Jennifer Ortiz who is about to walk down the aisle. She is visited by an angel and shown what could have been if she had been honest about her feeling for her childhood best friend. It is a movie about second chances and being honest to yourself. It forces one to reflect on the normal fall-outs we have with people in our lives. If we are honest, there are things in our lives that we wish we can have a do-over. Does true love win in the end?

❥ THE CHRISTMAS SETUP

This is Lifetime’s first-ever LGBTQ+ Christmas movie. It stars a real-life married couple Ben Lewis and Blake Lee. It premiered on December 12. The film follows Hugo, who is returning home with his best friend Madelyn to celebrate the holidays with his family. His mother has an affinity to playing matchmaker. She meticulously plans for her son to run into his former crush Patrick. The two realize they still have an attraction between them, but as always, important life decisions need to be made. Hugo will need to decide between love and ambition — which one is more important? Critics have hailed this as the answer to the serious lack of LGBTQ+ representation in holiday-themed media.

❥DASHING IN DECEMBER

Golden Globe winner Andie MacDowell and Peter Porte from The Young and the Restless team up to bring life to this gay Yuletide romantic comedy. The story follows Wyatt, who is returning to his rural hometown for Christmas and to convince his mother to sell the family ranch. He ends up meeting a handsome ranch hand whose heart is set on saving the ranch. In between the two different expectations for the ranch, an unexpected romance brews. It is a great movie and if you are into cowboys, it is just another reason why you need to watch these two fall in love. It will definitely get you into the spirit of Christmas and remind you what needs to be saved.

❥THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE

This is Hallmark’s first-ever holiday LGBTQ+ movie. It follows two sons who have been summoned by their parents to come home for Christmas. The parents hope that recreating the Christmas house as a family will help them bond and bring them closer. It also touches on adoption for gay couples and the anxiety that comes with the process. It is a movie about family bonds and the need to keep them going. It is a bit on the serious side but you are still going to feel the Christmas cheer throughout the film. The film also stars Mean Girls’ Jonathan Bennett, who just got engaged to his longtime boyfriend Jaymes Vaughan!

❥HAPPIEST SEASON

Happiest Season is a comedy film directed by Clea Duvall who says the film is a semi-autobiographical take on her own experiences with her family. Abby(Kristen Stewart) is planning to propose to her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) during the holiday celebrations with her family. She soon learns that Harper has not come out to her conservative parents. The film’s main theme is the struggles of coming out and the courage one needs to open up about sexual orientation. It delves family acceptance and being true to yourself. It is a relatable coming-out story and the cast perfectly brought this story to life.

❥I HATE NEW YEAR’S

This movie is a modern day musical and an LGBTQ+ romantic comedy. It follows musician Layne who misconstrues a fortune teller’s advice and goes on a mission to bump into her ex-girlfriend again. On the other hand, her best friend Cassie is hoping to confess her feelings and evolve the relationship to more than friendship. The movie’s central themes are love, friendship and music. It is a fun movie that teaches us that sometimes we need to look for inspiration from a new place.