ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the application of heteronormative characteristics to queer characters and storylines in Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. The author situates Hallmark’s gay Christmas movies in the current culture and television landscape to interrogate whether such heteronormalizing leads to progress or problems for the LGBTQ+ community. Drawing on research in queer theory and queer cinema, the chapter analyzes the impacts—both negative and positive—of heteronormalizing on the authentic representation of LGBTQ+ characters, as well as on Hallmark’s goal to become known as an inclusive network, especially when compared with its more progressive counterparts, Hulu and Netflix. The primary subjects of analysis are Hallmark’s The Christmas House and its sequel, and The Holiday Sitter.
