Los Angeles (AFP)

When Jonathan Bennett's agent called him to tell him about a lead role in a Christmas movie, the actor's first reaction was, "Great, what's the girl's name?"

Even though Jonathan Bennett is openly gay, the "Lolita Despite Me" actor is more used to playing heterosexual characters, especially when it comes to a Christmas movie, an often agreed upon and stereotypical genre.

"There was a blank, and they said ... + Jake +. I couldn't believe it!"

remembers the actor, laughing.

“We've been waiting for this for a long time,” he adds.

"The Christmas House", released last month, is the first Hallmark Christmas movie to feature a gay couple in the lead roles.

Jonathan Bennett's character, Brandon, and her husband Jake, played by Brad Harder, attempt to adopt a child.

In Santa's hood this year, films featuring stories of same-sex couples feature prominently for the first time.

"I imagine what my younger + me + would have thought, sitting watching a movie with characters who looked like me, in couples relationships like the ones I wanted growing up. It's just so important," greets Jonathan Bennett.

- With Kristen Stewart -

“My In-Laws, Christmas, and Me,” starring Hollywood star Kristen Stewart, has even broken viewership records for the Hulu streaming platform since its release on November 25.

It tells the story of a lesbian couple where one of the women has difficulty revealing her homosexuality to her rather traditional family.

Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, and Dan Levy share the bill with the Twilight star.

Lesbian director Clea DuVall said she has "never seen her own experience portrayed" on screen in Christmas movies, with LGBTQ + characters, if any, usually taking a back seat.

Produced by Sony and acquired by Hulu when theaters were closed due to the pandemic, the film claims to be the first Christmas romantic comedy with a gay couple, produced by one of Hollywood's major studios.

The Lifetime channel, for its part this month released "The Christmas Setup", while the Paramount channel aired "Dashing in December".

Two TV films highlighting gay romance.

The representation of gay people is increasing in Hollywood - especially through new series on streaming platforms - but Christmas movies, wildly popular despite their predictable storylines, had so far remained outside the dynamic. .

Last year, the family-oriented Hallmark channel was sharply criticized by LGBTQ + groups for giving in to pressure from conservative groups and withdrawing advertisements for a wedding business with a gay couple kissing at the altar.

The channel rebroadcast the commercials and apologized when lesbian TV star Ellen DeGeneres tweeted: "Aren't nearly 2020? Are you serious?"

- "Overwhelmed by emotion" -

With "The Christmas House", Hallmark goes much further.

Even though Brandon and Jake's story is just one of three intertwined relationships in the film, the two characters kiss onscreen before the heterosexual couples.

"When we shot our first kiss, the film crew were just overwhelmed with emotion - more than a tear fell," Brad Harder told AFP.

"Was it past time? Absolutely. But I'm glad we're there. It's really strong," said the actor.

According to him, "Christmas for the LGBTQ + community is a particularly delicate time", especially for those whose family members are not "super tolerant".

This new trend in Christmas movies has drawn rave reviews from all quarters.

Jonathan Bennett said he had received "thousands of messages" from grateful fans.

What to do with it according to the pop culture website Decider, "the gayest Christmas in history".

© 2020 AFP