I've got time for just one more Christmas cartoon this year, so here goes:
Five years ago, my cartoon on this subject lampooned a Christian Nationalist trouble-maker who, in a fit of pique and self-promotion, had presented the Hallmark Channel with a petition demanding that it cancel production and broadcast of Christmas Holiday movies with LGBTQ+ central characters.
Controversy and outrage erupted in conservative circles after a November 15 interview with Hallmark Channel CEO Bill Abbot for The Hollywood Reporter's TV's Top 5 podcast. Abbot stated that he would be "open" to the idea of a gay-themed Christmas movie, although the channel has yet to produce one and has no immediate plans to do so. The channel is said to be releasing over three dozen Christmas-themed films this year, none with gay major characters.
Since then, Hallmark has added LGBTQ+ fare to its holiday fare every year, as has Lifetime. Netflix joined the party in 2021.
Hallmark has cut back somewhat on making the Yuletide gay this year, however. I'm told there is only one holiday feature that includes a LGBTQ+ couple, and only as one plot line among several in a sequel about some sort of AirBnB/Vrbo/hostel where love is in the air ducts.
That's one couple, in one movie, among 50 new Hallmark holiday movies this season. With a repressive regime in complete control in this country next year, I wouldn't expect any gay-friendly Hallmark treacle for Christmas, 2025.
So, of course, the Hallmark movie in my cartoon is completely made up, as are Ty Askew and Casey Rossera. The Catholic Censorship League would have a fit over any TV show depicting a closeted priest succumbing to the charms of an atheist guy under the pagan mistletoe; perhaps Ron Reagan Jr. and the Enforced Freedom from Religion folks would file their complaints as well.
Unless the professional complainer class decides it's not worth it to give the Christmas movie factories the free publicity of a formal protest. It's not as if any of what Hallmark, Lifetime, or Netflix has actually extruded for the holiday is apt to rival Shakespeare anyway. Or Dickens.
Whether The Bishop's Wife or Elf or Red
One is more your style, we wish you a merry Christmas.
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