a&e features
Hope amid the holidays
Locals talk about escaping homelessness, overcoming family estrangement and surviving a major health scare
Reevs O’Neal says he was skeptical upon arriving at Casa Ruby but he now credits the center with helping him become self-sufficient. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
As the streets get darker and colder, there is a ray of warmth and light nestled in D.C. in the form of Casa Ruby, a local shelter and transitional housing center for LGBT youth.
Washington Blade staff was invited into Casa Ruby’s transitional housing center and ushered off the dimly lit street into the bright, warm entrance. In mid-December, the home was still waiting to receive its Christmas tree. But even without a tree, the cozy feeling of holiday cheer was present in the jokes and laughter echoing in the hallway between staff and residents and the comforting smiles passed along to one another. Holiday dinners are planned this year with help from the community including those who offer to cook meals and even those who offer to pay for catering.
The center feels like home and that’s because it is one. The staff’s warm and welcoming attitude has created a safe haven for its residents proving that traditional family roles aren’t the only way to create a family.
Casa Ruby, founded in 2012 by Ruby Corado, provides services for LGBT-identifying youth ages 18-24. Their services include a hypothermia center with 16 beds, an emergency shelter with 10 beds and transitional housing with 10 beds. More than 95 percent of the staff identify as transgender or gender non-conforming people of color. They work to provide housing and comfort to those in need with the goal of transitioning them back into jobs and apartments of their own.
Reevs O’Neal, 26, was kicked out of his home in North Carolina. The lack of resources for trans people in his area and his connection to friends in D.C. led him to the District where he connected with Casa Ruby. At first, O’Neal had reservations about the shelter.
“I was very skeptical of it because the continuing theme in my story has been finding somewhere that I thought was safe and it not actually being safe,” O’Neal says. “I sat down with Ruby and we had a really good one on one and it was the first time I had even met her. I was reassured instantly.”
After staying at Casa Ruby for six months, Corado was able to connect O’Neal with low-cost housing. O’Neal was also able to get a job as a house monitor in the emergency shelter. O’Neal says he loves his job because of the family atmosphere.
“We’re a very tight-knit, but open group,” O’Neal says. “I can come into work and it’s like I’m surrounded by people who I love and who I know love me like all the clients. We’re just all very accepting of each other. It’s just like the family aspect of it; it’s amazing.”
Interim Director Lourdes Ashely Hunter has a similar success story. Hunter arrived to D.C. homeless and unemployed with a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. Despite her education, Hunter says her identity prevented her from succeeding.
“As a black, trans, indigenous woman, gender non-conforming person, it’s so challenging to find gainful employment that also affirms my identities and allows me to show up to work whole,” Hunter says. “What’s so magical about this place is that it’s run by the people that it serves. Everyone here has experienced something that our communities are living right now.”
Last Thanksgiving, Hunter joined the dinner as a client of Casa Ruby. This year, Hunter was present at the dinner as the interim director (Corado is taking extended leave in 2016 for health reasons). Hunter says she felt inspired by Corado’s position and understands the power her own leadership can have.
“So for me to now be in this role is so powerful … When I was homeless and didn’t have a job it took for me to see someone in a leadership role like Ruby Corado to say it’s possible,” Hunter says.
Current resident Chris, 22, has high hopes for his own success story. Chris arrived in D.C. seven months ago from Lincoln, Neb., after being kicked out of his home. He worked with the governor of Nebraska as a teenager and is interested in politics, particularly issues surrounding homelessness.
“Since living here, homelessness and youth homelessness is a big issue for me because without Casa Ruby, I wouldn’t be here and I’d probably be who knows where right now,” Chris says.
Chris is currently working on his GED. In his free time he enjoys hanging out with friends and lobbying on Capitol Hill. In the future, he hopes to run for elected office in D.C. The passion he has for his work is supported by Casa Ruby, something other housing programs may not be able to say.
“It takes a lot of compassion and understanding and passion. A lot of times for the shelters that are city run that’s not a requirement of the staff. That’s just the narrative that we’re trying to shift,” Hunter says.
Chris (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
An uphill journey
By Joey DiGuglielmo
Much has been written about the employment challenges facing trans people, income inequality, the exorbitant cost of living in an increasingly gentrified Washington, strained family relations for out folks and more. Benny Rodriguez has lived it all.
Rodriguez, a 24-year-old Virginia native who “hopped around a lot” between New York and Virginia, is 24 and has been out as a trans man for about two years.
He’s down to three part-time jobs now — a few days a week at an art store, part-time at an Indian restaurant and an on-call bartender at Phase 1. At one point he had four jobs and also worked at Busboys and Poets but gave it up because he says it wasn’t financially worthwhile. Combined he makes about $1,600 a month — enough to rent a room in a house with a family with two small children in Columbia Heights.
“There’s been no issue with me being trans and I preface that with the fact that I am two years now on hormones so I pass almost all the time,” Rodriguez says. “That makes it easier … and I can be more stealth than I used to be. When I first started (transitioning), I had to sort of convince people that I was really trans. I had to conceal a lot.”
Rodriguez formerly performed with the D.C. Kings but since that group folded earlier this year, he now does occasional shows with the D.C. Gurly Show “pretty regularly.”
In many ways, Rodriguez says, 2015 was a tough year.
“It’s definitely been up and down,” he says. “Certainly not the worst year I’ve ever had, but it was a year of growing.”
Family life is tough. He’s “definitely grateful my Mom still talks to me.” Other relatives are “kind of estranged.”
“I had to cut ties with them,” he says. “They were toxic and it was to the point where it was more harmful than helpful to be with them so I don’t really say much to many of them, my father especially. I want to say that my situation is unique, but I really don’t think it is. I think it’s pretty common for trans people in general to lose touch with their families. … It’s so hard for many people to wrap their head around.”
Rodriguez will spend Christmas with a friend’s mother whom he says is “kind of like a second mother who helped raise me.” He’s not a big Christmas or holidays person in general but does say he “quite enjoys” this time of year.
He’s excited about the top surgery he’s having in late February. Through decent D.C. health insurance and the services of Whitman-Walker, he won’t have to pay for it. He wishes his mom could be there with him but says he has a good network of friends who will help him recover.
Despite depression and constant reminders of life’s challenges, Rodriguez says he senses he’s been dealt this hand for a reason.
“Things get very hard to get through sometime but I feel very strongly that I have some sense of purpose,” he says. “Whether it’s just to talk to people or change lives or achieve some sort of human greatness, I’m not sure but I feel like I have a job to do and that job is not fulfilled. Knowing that kind of keeps me going.”
Benson Rodriguez say the holidays are tough when family relations are strained. (Photo courtesy Rodriguez)
A second chance
Robby Dean (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
By Joey DiGuglielmo
Robby Dean collapsed in the cafeteria at his job as a department specialist for Safeway in Lanham, Md., on Aug. 7.
It was a scary episode in which he recalls not being able to see, hear or breathe, yet still being conscious. His blood pressure plummeted and he was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center where it was discovered that he had a “very large” saddlebag pulmonary embolism — essentially a blood clot of the lungs that was “saddle bagged” on both sides of his pulmonary artery.
It was difficult finding a place to have the clot removed but it was quickly deemed an emergency case. A doctor who’d seen his chart and tests said the life-threatening condition could not be delayed even a few hours.
His boyfriend of three years met him at the hospital. Doctors were able to go in through his neck, remove part of the clot and dissolve the rest through blood thinners.
“I had no idea what a pulmonary embolism was until after the surgery when I looked it up,” says the 48-year-old Gainesville, Ga., native. “The first statement said these are usually found during an autopsy.”
The only warning signs had been a few episodes of dizziness in the weeks prior. Except for some weight issues following a car accident a few years ago, Dean was in good health. Despite only being in the hospital for the weekend, it took him a month to recover sufficiently to return to work full time.
Singing the Sondheim song “Being Alive” in “The S Show” — he sings tenor in the Gay Men’s Chorus — took on added poignancy at their recent Home Cooked Cabaret events.
“It’s very emotional and hard to get through without crying,” Dean says. “It taught me to listen to my body more and not avoid the doctor and take better care of myself.”
He’s spending Christmas at home with his family in Georgia for the first time since he came to the Washington area six years ago. He says his health scare made him look at life differently.
“You have to cherish every moment you have with the ones you love,” he says. “You never know when it might be your last time seeing them. Going through something like this really reminds you how short life can be.”
a&e features
Have yourself a merry John Waters Christmas
Annual holiday show returns to Alexandria and Baltimore
When it comes to iconic Christmas scenes in movies, none can top the tree-toppling tantrum thrown by cha-cha heels-deprived Dawn Davenport in John Waters’s fifth full-length feature “Female Trouble” from 1974. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Waters continues to make art out of Christmas, performing his spoken word Christmas tour in cities across the country. Waters has even more reason to celebrate with the release of his new red vinyl 7” single, a cover of Little Cindy’s “Happy Birthday Jesus (A Child’s Prayer)” on the A-side, and “A Pig Latin Visit From St. Nicholas” on the B-side. If you’re still looking for unique Christmas gifts, consider this record. As always, John was kind enough to make time for an interview in advance of his tour dates.
BLADE: John, in preparation for this interview with you, I went back and listened to Little Cindy’s original rendition of “Happy Birthday Jesus (A Child’s Prayer)” on your “A John Waters Christmas” CD.
JOHN WATERS: One thing I did, if you notice, I make the same stumble in my recording that she did in the original.
BLADE: It sounded to me like she got choked up.
WATERS: No, I think she just stumbles over a word, so I stumbled over the same word. It’s appropriation, insanely.
BLADE: Is this a song you first became aware of in your youth or when you were an adult?
WATERS: When I was doing the Christmas album, I had this friend named Larry Benicewicz. He was kind of my idea man with music. He knew every single old record. I would say to him, “Weird Christmas songs,” when we were doing a soundtrack, or a song about bears, or a song about this, and he would give me all these tapes. It was one of the ones he played for me. A lot of the songs I put in my movies and on my records, I did know as a kid. I did not know this one, but I immediately embraced it. I don’t think it’s campy. I think it really is spiritual in a weird way. My doing it makes it a novelty record. I am really for novelty records, and there aren’t any anymore. Why was there not a COVID novelty record? That’s insane. The dance “The Bug” that’s on the “Hairspray” soundtrack would be perfect for COVID.
BLADE: The thing that struck me was that for a Christmas song in the voice of a child, a kind of death pall hangs over it, with lines like, “If I was good you’d let me live with you” and “they nailed you to the cross, they wanted you to die.”
WATERS: All of it! When I see children at midnight mass kneeling in front of a nude man nailed to a cross, I feel like I’m at The Eagle! It is S&M, it’s creepy. I took the same cover (photo) from her record to parody and put my face on it. The same thing I did with The Singing Dogs last year when I covered (their version of) “Jingle Bells.” I’m really into novelty records. I love them and I’m trying to bring them back. I don’t expect anybody to ever play these records. Even The Singing Dogs one said on it, “Please do not play this record” [laughs]. And the flipside, the Pig Latin version, is almost impossible to listen to.
BLADE: I’m so glad you mentioned that. “A Pig Latin Visit From St. Nicholas” reminded me of the lost art of speaking in Pig Latin. I also recall watching the PBS series “Zoom” as an adolescent and learning to speak “ubbi dubbi,” a distant relative of Pig Latin. Do you think that the time is right for a Pig Latin or ubbi dubbi revival?
WATERS: Here’s the thing, I never could pick up any language, except Pig Latin. I’ve been in every foreign country. Foreign countries have given me money to learn to speak the language. I can never do it! But Pig Latin…my parents and other parents in the ‘50s spoke Pig Latin so kids couldn’t understand what they were saying. Then my mother taught it to me, and I used it. The hardest take to shoot in “Pink Flamingos” was not eating the dog shit. It was when the cast skipped, in one take, saying “E-way, are-yay e-they ilthiest-fay eople-pay in-hay e-they ole-hay ide-way orld-way.” We’re the filthiest people in the whole wide world in Pig Latin. We had to do so many takes so they could do it once without screwing it up. In “Polyester,” Edith (Massey) answers the phone, “ello-hay.” I did a photo piece where it was all subtitled in Pig Latin. Like “osebud-Ray” (from “Citizen Kane”) or in “Streetcar,” “ella-Stay!” [Laughs] All the iconic dialogue translated into Pig Latin. My assistant who helped me do it, had never heard of Pig Latin. She really got good at it because she lived in many foreign countries and can pick up languages. But it’s not that easy to do it correctly and read it. Your computer will translate into Pig Latin.
BLADE: AI understands Pig Latin?
WATERS: I guess that’s AI. It wasn’t 100% right, but it was close. I can speak it if I look at it, but just do a bit at a time. It was a challenge that no one would possibly care about or want to do.
BLADE: I think you pulled it off very well.
WATERS: If you want people to leave on Christmas morning, you put it on. That’s how you get your guests to leave. It’s time to go.
BLADE: Ood-gay i-bay! How did your relationship with record label Sub Pop, which released 2021, 2022, 2024, and new 2025 holiday singles, come about?
WATERS: I believe the first thing I did for them was “Prayer to Pasolini.” They came to me through Ian Brennan. He’s won a couple Grammys for World Music, but he is also is one of my agents who does the Christmas tour and a lot of my shows, anything with music. He helped me arrange each one of the songs. He had a relationship with Sub Pop. It was perfect. My friends in Baltimore, (the band) Beach House, have had huge success.
BLADE: That’s right, they’re on Sub Pop!
WATERS: Yes! I’m happy to be on it. I’ve even been to the warehouse and posed for pictures like Jackie Suzanne used to do.
BLADE: Is there any chance that “A John Waters Christmas” might be reissued on vinyl by Sub Pop?
WATERS: No. It’s such a nightmare to get the rights and to renew them. You have to find the publisher and the writer, and they usually hate each other. It doesn’t matter if it’s obscure or famous, it’s hard to get. You have to make the deal. The singer doesn’t get anything unless they play it on the radio. It would be so complicated legally, and there would be such a [laughs] tiny audience for it. I hope it will come out again. The same thing with the one for Valentine’s Day. I had two of them that did quite well when they came out; “A Date With John Waters and “A John Waters Christmas.” The “John Waters Christmas” album is still the soundtrack that plays whenever I’m doing my spoken word Christmas show as people are entering the theater.
BLADE: Aside from your annual Christmas show tour, what else do you do for the holidays now, and are there any traditions that you’ve carried over from your family?
WATERS: Certainly! I have two sisters, my brother’s widow, and me, so there are four and we take turns each year to have the Christmas dinner. Mine was last year. An entire sit-down dinner. Mom’s China, the silverware, the entire full dinner. It’s pretty traditional. I don’t have a Christmas tree, but I do decorate the electric chair from “Female Trouble.” That is a tradition in my family. We do have Christmas decorations, but they’re usually weird ones that fans sent me. I have one with Divine knocking over the Christmas tree, and the Christmas tree lights up, all sorts of amazing things. There is definitely a tradition here that might be a little altered, but it is definitely a tradition. I used to have a giant party every year, but COVID ended that. I still wouldn’t want 200 people in my house breathing right now.
BLADE: I was looking at your tour schedule and wondered if there are any new cities in which you’ve never performed the John Waters Christmas show that have been added to this year’s schedule?
WATERS: I don’t think there’s a city in America in which I haven’t done one show! The only places I haven’t been to are Hawaii and Alaska. I could do it there, but it’s too long on a tour. I can’t think of a city I haven’t played in in America over the last 50 years. The Christmas show is completely different every year. It doesn’t matter if you saw it last year.
Some gifts scream practical, others whisper luxury, and a few flat-out blur the lines. From cocoa that feels ceremonial to a cologne that linger like a suggestive smirk, this year’s ultimate gift picks prove that thoughtful (and occasionally naughty) presents don’t have to be prosaic. Welcome to your holiday cheat sheet for festive tangibles that get noticed, remembered, and maybe even result in a peck of gratitude planted under the mistletoe. Consensually, of course.
Amber Glass Champagne Flutes
Pop the champs – but make it vintage. These tulip-shaped stunners in amber-tinted glass bring all the Gatsby vibes without the Jazz-age drama. Whether you’re toasting a milestone or celebrating a Tuesday, their seven-ounce capacities and hand-wash-only care make ‘em as practical as they are pretty. Pair with a thoughtful bottle of bubs and gift with a glittering wink. $18, NantucketLooms.com
Disaster Playbook by Here Comes the Apocalypse
Because the end of the world shouldn’t be a solo act, this spiral-bound guide is your step-by-step roadmap to surviving and thriving when everything else goes sideways, which might be sooner than you think. Packed with checklists, drills, and a healthy dose of humor, it’s like a survival manual written by your most prepared (and slightly snarky) friend. Whether you’re prepping for a zombie apocalypse or, more realistically, REVOLUTION!, this playbook’s got your back. $40, HereComesTheApocalypse.com
Wickless Vulva Candles
Bold, luxurious, and completely flame-free, CTOAN’s wickless candles melt from beneath on a warmer, releasing subtle, sophisticated fragrances, like sandalwood or lavender. The vulva-shaped wax adds a playful, provocative element to any space –perfect for a bedroom, living room, or anywhere you want elegance with an edge. A gift that celebrates form, intimacy and self-expression, no fire required. $39, CTOANCO.com
Villeroy & Boch Royal Classic Christmas Collection
Every meal is a mini celebration – with whimsy at every place setting – in Villeroy & Boch’s Royal Classic festive dinnerware collection that hits all the right notes. Made from premium German porcelain, it features nostalgic little toys, nutcrackers, and rocking horses in delicate relief, giving your holiday spread a playful but refined twist. Dishwasher- and microwave-safe, it’s luxe without the fuss. Gift a piece to a special someone, or start a collection they’ll use (and show off) for years to come. $22-$363, Villeroy-Boch.com
Greenworks Electric Lawnmower
You a ’hood queen who considers lawn care performance art – or just wants to rule the cul-de-sac in quiet, emission-free glory? Greenworks’ zero-turn electric mower has the muscle of a 24-horsepower gas engine but none of the fumes, drama or maintenance. Six 60V batteries and a 42-inch deck mean you can mow up to two-and-a-half acres on a single charge – then plug in, recharge, and ride again. It’s whisper-quiet, slope-ready, and smooth enough to make you wonder why you ever pushed anything besides your queer agenda. The perfect gift for the homeowner who loves sustainability, symmetry, and showing off their freshly striped yard like that fresh fade you get on Fridays. $5,000, GreenworksTools.com
Molekule Air Purifier
For the friend who treats their space like a sanctuary (or just can’t stand sneezes), the Molekule Air Pro is magic in motion. Covering up to 1,000 square feet, it doesn’t just capture allergens, VOCs, and smoke – it destroys them, leaving your air feeling luxury-clean. FDA-cleared as a Class II medical device, it’s serious science disguised as modern design. Gift it to your city-dwelling, pet-loving, candle-burning friend who likes their living room as pristine as their Instagram feed. $1,015, Molekule.com
Cipriani Prosecco Gift Set
Effervescent with stone-fruit sweetness and a touch of Italian flair, the Cipriani Bellini & Prosecco gift set brings brunch-level glamour to any day of the week. The Bellini blends rich white-peach purée with sparkling wine, while the dry ’secco keeps things crisp and celebratory. Pop a bottle, pour a flute, and suddenly winter weeknights feel like a party – even with your pants off. $36, TotalWine.com
Woo(e)d Cologne
British GQ recently crowned Woo(e)d by ALTAIA the “Best Date Night Fragrance,” and honestly, they nailed it. Confident without being cocky – smoky gaïac and Atlas cedarwood grounds the room while supple leather and spicy cardamom do all the flirting – it’s a scent that lingers like good conversation and soft candlelight. Gift it to the one who always turns heads – or keep it for yourself and let them come to (and then on) you. $255, BeautyHabit.com
Lococo Cocoa Kit
Keep the run-of-the-mill mugs in the cabinet this Christmas and pull out Lococo’s handcrafted Oaxacan versions that demand you slow down and sip like it matters. Paired with a wooden scoop, rechargeable frother, and Lococo’s signature spice hot-chocolate blend (vegan, gluten-free, with adaptogenic mushrooms), this holiday kit turns Mexi-cocoa into a mini ritual you’ll look forward to. Perfect for anyone who loves a little indulgence with a side of ¡A huevo! energy.
Manta Sleep Mask
Total blackout, zero pressure on the eyes, and Bluetooth speakers built right into the straps, this ain’t your mama’s sleep mask — but it could be. The Manta SOUND sleep mask features C-shaped eye cups that block every hint of light while ultra-thin speakers deliver your favorite white noise, meditation, or late-night playlist straight to your ears. With 24-hour battery life, breathable fabric, and easy-to-adjust sound, it turns any bed (or airplane seat) into a five-star sleep suite. Perfect for anyone who treats shut-eye like an art form (or just wants to escape their roommate’s late-night bingin’ and/or bangin’). $159, MantaSleep.com
Shacklelock Necklace
Turn the industrial-chic vibe of a shackle into a sleek statement. Mi Tesoro’s platinum-plated stainless-steel necklace sits on an 18-inch wheat chain, featuring a shackle-style latch pendant that’s waterproof, tarnish-free, and totally fuss-les. Beyond style, it nods to a classic gesture in the queer leather community: replacing a traditional Master lock with something elegant to quietly signal belonging to someone special. Wear it solo for a minimalist edge or layer it like you mean it; either way this piece locks in both your look and your intentions. $90, MiTesoroJewelry.com
Parkside Flask Mojave Edition
Wine nights get a desert glow-up with Parkside’s limited-edition 750-milliliter all-in-one flask draped in sun-washed bronze and badland hues like sage, sand, and terracotta – with magnetic stemless tumblers that snap on for effortless shareability. It keeps your vino chilled for 24 hours, pours without drips (no tears for spilled rosé, please), and even lets you laser-engrave your own mantra or inside joke. Perfect for picnics, surprise rooftop clinks, or gifting to your favorite wine (or desert) rat. $149, HighCampFlasks.com
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with him on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels.
a&e features
Meet Mr. Christmas
Hallmark’s Jonathan Bennett on telling gay love stories for mainstream audiences
Jonathan Bennett believes there are two kinds of people in the world — those who love Hallmark movies and liars. And in Season 2 of Finding Mr. Christmas, which the Mean Girls star co-created with Ben Roy, Bennett is searching for Hallmark’s next leading man.
“It’s so fun for people because everyone in their life has someone they know that they think should be in Hallmark movies, right? The UPS driver, the barista at the coffee shop, the dentist,” Bennett says. “So we’re testing their acting abilities, we’re testing who they are, but we’re also looking for that star quality — the thing that makes them shine above everyone else. It’s almost something you can’t explain, but we know it when we see it.”
Season 2’s cast includes a former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers, a few actors, and a realtor. The 10 men compete in weekly festive-themed acting challenges, one of which included having to ride a horse and act out a scene with Alison Sweeney. The contestants were chosen from a crop of 360 potential men, and Bennett gives kudos to the show’s Emmy-nominated casting director, Lindsay Liles (The Bachelor, Bachelor in Paradise).
“She has a tough job because she has to find 10 guys that are going to be good reality television, but also have the talent to act, carry a scene, and lead a Hallmark movie eventually,” he says. To be the right fit for a Hallmark leading man, Bennett singles out five key characteristics: you have to be funny, charming, kind, have a sense of humor, and you have to do it all with a big heart.
Of course, Finding Mr. Christmas wouldn’t be Finding Mr. Christmas without its signature eye candy — something Bennett describes as “part of the job” for the contestants. “I can’t believe Hallmark let me get away with this. I dressed them as sexy reindeer and put them in harnesses attached to a cable 30 feet in the air, and they had to do a sexy reindeer photo shoot challenge,” he says with a laugh. “This season is just bigger and bolder than last. People are responding to not only all the craziness that we put them through, but also comparing and contrasting the guys in their acting scenes when we do them back-to-back.”
Season 1 winner Ezra Moreland’s career has been an early testament to the show’s success at finding rising talent. On seeing the show’s first winner flourish, Bennett says, “Now to watch him out in the world, just booking commercial after commercial and shining as an actor and a model, I think the show gave him the wings to do that. He learned so much about himself, and he took all that into his future auditions and casting. He just works nonstop. I’ve never seen an actor book more commercials and modeling gigs in my life.”
Bennett has been a star of plenty of Hallmark movies himself, including the GLAAD-award-winning The Groomsmen: Second Chances, which makes him a fitting host. Among those movies are 2020’s Christmas House, which featured the first same-sex kiss on the network and had a major impact on Bennett’s career as an openly gay man. “Hallmark’s been so great about supporting me in queer storytelling. But again, I don’t make gay movies for gay audiences. I make gay love stories for a broad audience, and that’s a huge difference, right? We’re not telling stories inside baseball that only the gay community will understand.”
He continues, “The backdrop of a Hallmark Christmas movie is very familiar to these people who watch. And so when you tell a gay love story, and you tell it no differently than a straight love story in that space, they’re able to understand. It’s able to change hearts and minds for people who might not have it in their lives.”
While Hallmark has become a major staple of Bennett’s career, he started off wanting to be a Broadway actor. And before the first season of Finding Mr. Christmas aired, Bennett took a break from TV to make his Broadway debut in Spamalot, replacing Michael Urie as Sir Robin and starring alongside Ethan Slater and Alex Brightman.
“That was my dream since I was five years old – then I booked a movie called Mean Girls, and everything kind of changes in your life. You no longer become a person pursuing Broadway, you become a part of pop culture,” Bennett recalls. “And to be honest, when I hit 40, I was like, ‘I’m probably never going to get to live that dream.’ And that’s okay, because I got to do other dreams and other things that were just as cool but different. So I honestly never thought it would happen.”
Bennett is still determined to make his way back on Broadway with the right role — he calls Spamalot the “best experience” of his life, after all — but he’s got another Hallmark show lined up with Murder Mystery House, which he co-created. The show was recently greenlit for development and intends to bring the Hallmark mystery movie to life. “It’s kind of like our version of The Traitors,” Bennett admits.
Looking back on both seasons, Bennett says that what makes Finding Mr. Christmas stand out in the overcrowded reality TV landscape is that everyone involved makes it with heart: “This isn’t a show where you’re going to watch people throw drinks in each other’s faces and get into big fights. The thing that has amazed me so much about this show, the more we’ve done it, is that every season, 10 guys come in as competitors, but they leave as a family and as brothers. That’s something you don’t get on any other network.”
Finding Mr. Christmas airs every Monday on Hallmark through December 20, with episodes available to stream on Hallmark+.
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