For the past few decades, the Hallmark Channel has been the go-to network for love stories and heartwarming tales of romance. Now, the rom-com giant is debuting more and more inclusive storytelling that reflects real-world relationships. And the LGBTQIA Hallmark stars leading the charge are certainly ones to watch.
Two of Hallmark's most high-profile leading men, Jonathan Bennett and Luke Macfarlane, have been vocal about their passion for expanding the network's love stories. Bennett, a "Mean Girls" alum, came out in 2014 and went on to make Hallmark history twice: He produced and starred in "The Christmas House" (2020), the first flick to feature a gay couple, and "The Holiday Sitter" (2022), the first to actually center the story on a gay couple. For his part, "Bros" actor Luke Macfarlane returned to Hallmark in 2023 with the queer house-swap romance "Notes of Autumn."
Hallmark continues to put new faces and identities to time-honored romance narratives and festive flicks. This Countdown to Christmas, the network debuted "Friends & Family Christmas," its first-ever holiday movie to feature a lesbian couple. The film stars longtime Hallmark actor-director Ali Liebert and newcomer Humberly González as two women who pretend to be in a relationship to appease their parents, but end up finding a deeper connection.
Here are 12 LGBTQIA Hallmark stars who are leading the network's new era of inclusive storytelling and proving that love—and Christmas—is for everyone.
Jonathan Bennett
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Associated Television International
Jonathan Bennett skyrocketed to fame as Aaron Samuels in 2004's "Mean Girls," but he's been a Hallmark staple since 2010. The 42-year-old actor came out in 2014 and went on to star in and produce some of Hallmark's most trailblazing romances, including "The Christmas House" (2020), the first flick to feature a gay couple, and "The Holiday Sitter" (2022), the first to center on a gay couple.
Most recently, Bennett starred in 2023's "Christmas on Cherry Lane," which follows three different couples as they navigate the holidays. Bennett and his husband Jaymes Vaughan use their platform to champion worthy causes, from brand safety for LGBTQIA consumers to safe drinking water in underserved communities.
Jake Foy
2023 Hallmark Media/Photographer: David Brown
Hallmark's 2023 Western series "Ride" was canceled after one season, but the show made strides in representation at the network. Jake Foy starred as a gay cowboy in the series — which the actor said was especially significant given that his character's queerness was not played as a major plot point.
Prior to "Ride," Foy appeared in Hallmark films like "A Little Daytime Drama" and "Love in Store." Outside of the spotlight, he recently had a big development in his own real-life love story and got engaged to longtime partner Nicolas La Traverse.
Ali Liebert
2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: David Astorga
As a vocal advocate for queer representation in the film and media industry, queer actress Ali Liebert shared a romantic on-screen kiss with fellow actress Lyndie Greenwood in the Hallmark movie "Every Time a Bell Rings." Liebert has made it her mission to help bring visibility and authenticity to the Hallmark lineup ever since.
She directed "The Holiday Sitter" (2022) and appeared in flicks like "Three Wise Men and a Baby" and "A Christmas to Cherish." Catch her opposite Humberly González in 2023's "Friends & Family Christmas," the first Hallmark Christmas movie to center a lesbian couple.
Luke Macfarlane
Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Canadian-American actor Luke Macfarlane has been a Hallmark Channel regular since appearing in the 2014 romance "The Memory Book." Although Macfarlane came out in 2008, he played mainly straight male leads in films like "Christmas Land," "Maggie's Miracle Christmas," "The Birthday Wish" and "The Mistletoe Promise."
It wasn't until 2022 that Macfarlane finally landed a queer role in "Bros," the first gay rom-com from a major Hollywood studio. Since "Bros," Macfarlane has returned to Hallmark with roles in 2023's queer house-swap comedy "Notes of Autumn" and the holiday romp "Catch Me If You Clause." He shares a daughter with his partner, alpine skier Hig Roberts.
Vic Michaelis
Hallmark
Newcomer Vic Michaelis made their Hallmark debut in the 2023 Hanukkah flick "Round and Round." The Canadian-American actor previously appeared in comedy series like "Upload" and "Bless This Mess." Offscreen, Michaelis is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA organizations like Trans Life Line, which provides material and emotional support to trans youth and adults.
George Krissa
2022 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Craig Minielly
Playing Jonathan Bennett's love interest in Hallmark's "The Holiday Sitter" put Canadian actor George Krissa on the map. While Krissa has yet to star in another Hallmark movie, we wouldn't be surprised if he returns to the network soon. Krissa has a budding career as an actor and a musician. He's not only appeared in multiple projects onscreen but has also performed in plays on stages across Canada, including the Stratford Festival and the Shaw Festival.
Donia Kash
2022 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Johann Wall
Being the first non-binary actor in a Hallmark movie is a major win for representation. In 2022, Donia Kash played Suzette in the romantic drama "The Secrets of Bella Vista." Since then, they've also appeared in "#Xmas," The Holiday Sitter" and, most recently, "Hearts in the Game." They continue to use their talent and platform to advocate for visibility and inclusion in an industry that's still dominated by cisgender stories.
Peter Porte
Hallmark
Perhaps best known as a series regular on "The Young and the Restless" and "Days of Our Lives," Peter Porte is also a Hallmark mainstay. His credits at the network include "Love, Once and Always," "A Gift to Remember," "Love at the Shore," "Rome in Love," "Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2" and, most recently, "Notes of Autumn."
In 2022, Porte played Josh in the hit Netflix comedy series "Uncoupled" opposite Neil Patrick Harris. The 39-year-old star has been married to Jacob Jules Villere since 2018.
Humberly González
Kristina Ruddick
Humberly González stars alongside Ali Liebert in 2023's "Friends & Family Christmas," the first Hallmark Christmas movie to center a lesbian couple. The 31-year-old made her debut at the network in 2022's "A Tail of Love" and is best known for playing queer characters in shows like "Ginny & Georgia," "Utopia Falls" and "Jupiter's Legacy."
Juan Pablo Di Pace
2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Steve Wensley
While the Argentine actor may be new to the Hallmark lineup, Juan Pablo Di Pace stole everyone's hearts as the winemaker Marcelo in Hallmark's 2021 rom-com "Raise a Glass to Love." After appearing in Netflix's "Full House" reboot "Fuller House," he opened up about the slurs and bullying he faced growing up gay in Buenos Aires, and how important self-acceptance is for members of the LGBTQIA community.
Kyle Dean Massey
2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: The Ninth House/Tina Thorpe
Another new-ish face on the platform, Kyle Dean Massey is best known for his work in Broadway musicals like "Wicked" and "Pippin." You might also recognize him from the CMT drama "Nashville," in which he played the gay country star Kevin Bicks. His first—and, so far, only—Hallmark movie was 2019's "A Merry Christmas Match." Massey and his husband Taylor Frey recently started their own production company, which will release the upcoming LGBTQIA romance "The Holiday Exchange." Fingers crossed this duo enters the Hallmark fold for good.
Amy Goodmurphy
Liz Rosa Photography
She may have only appeared in a single Hallmark movie—"The Holiday Sitter"—but Amy Goodmurphy definitely left an impression. Before gracing the channel, she appeared in a number of series and movies like "The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers," "The Right One" and "Siren." Most recently, she starred in the Prime Video teen horror comedy "Totally Killer." Being openly queer, she said she was happy to be part of "The Holiday Sitter" even though she's "not really a Hallmark person."
These LGBTQIA Hallmark stars are just a few of the many talented individuals helping to redefine rom-coms and create more representation onscreen. Here's to many more trailblazing Hallmark romances to come.
