With the holidays in full swing, most of us are in the thick of shopping for presents, preparing elaborate menus for gatherings, and setting up festive decorations. For many, the holidays are a time of celebration with friends and loved ones, while others might find this time of year to be a little stressful. Wherever you stand, one thing always remains the same: nothing beats the wholesomeness of a good holiday film. However, when you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, this particular genre of films can be a little off-putting since many of these movies tend to be extremely heteronormative.
Fortunately, over the last several years, movie studios and independent companies have put more emphasis on inclusivity in their cheery holiday films. With more LGBTQ+ representation in this genre, that same cosy feeling that so many get from watching the holiday classics can now be experienced by queer folks everywhere.
The holidays can be a rough time for many members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially if they aren’t out to their families yet. So having films that highlight this experience, or even offer a little escape from it, are most certainly welcome. After all, the holidays are all about sharing and feeling joy with those around you. Whether that’s with your actual family, or your chosen one, nothing helps achieve this better than a good holiday movie, especially one that LGBTQ+ folks can relate to.
Not only do these LGBTQ+ holiday films represent the importance of inclusivity, they’re also campy, romantic, and just good old fun in all the right ways. If that all sounds like it’s up your alley, you surely won’t be disappointed by the films on this list, especially if you love a good, cheesy Hallmark movie. Without further ado, here are 15 LGBTQ+ holiday movies that are sure to spread joy this holiday season.
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A New York Christmas Wedding
Set to marry her fiancé on Christmas Eve, Jennifer faces the weight of her childhood decision not to follow her heart. In a classic Christmas trope of being visited by an otherworldly being to show the protagonist what could’ve been, an angel appears to her just before her wedding and takes her on a journey of self-discovery. With the angel’s guidance, she explores what life with her childhood best friend – and the woman that she secretly loved and pined after – would have been like. This authentically wholesome film teaches the age-old lesson about being honest and true to oneself – a pretty relatable theme for LGBTQ+ folks.
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Carol
Set during the holidays in the 1950s, Carol offers an interesting and period-focused twist on a Christmas story. The film follows Therese, a department store clerk, and Carol, a well-off woman stuck in a loveless marriage. The pair experience an instant spark, and their coincidental meeting soon develops into something much deeper. Due to the societal norms of the time and the expectations of being a proper woman, their unconventional attraction is pushed to its limit. Their desire for each other reaches a fever pitch when the two share a passionate kiss on New Year’s Eve. After their steamy moment, drama ensues, and the secret lovers are forced to navigate the entire aftermath together.
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Christmas at the Ranch
Christmas at the Ranch can easily be summed up as a classic, feel-good Christmas movie. The film focuses on successful city girl, Haley, who returns to her family’s ranch for the holidays to help keep it afloat. Determined to help her family, Haley finds herself blindsided by how much time she ends up spending with Kate, an employee on the ranch. An undeniable attraction sparks between the two women, and Haley falls head over heels for Kate. In traditional holiday movie fashion, this one pulls out all the stops with family drama, humor, and soft romance to lift your spirits.
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Happiest Season
Happiest Season is a coming-out story following young couple Harper and Abby. Abby has an open hatred for Christmas due to losing her parents around the holidays, but Harper wants to shift Abby’s perspective. After dating for almost a year, Harper convinces Abby to travel home with her to meet her family. However, Harper reveals that she never actually told her family about Abby, and is still in the closet. Convincing Abby to keep their relationship a secret for just a little while longer, the pair must make it through the visit without letting the cat out of the bag.
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Make the Yuletide Gay
As one of the oldest movies on this list, Make the Yuletide Gay is an eye-opening coming out story. After living his college life as an out and proud gay man, Olaf “Gunn” returns home for the holidays. Unlike his open persona at school, Olaf is more reserved and closeted because he hasn’t worked up the courage to tell his family the truth. All his efforts to force himself back in the closet are thrown out the window when his boyfriend, Nathan, shows up at his family’s home unexpectedly. Olaf convinces Nathan to keep their relationship a secret until he’s ready to come out, but just how long can he keep Nathan hidden?
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Anna and the Apocalypse
This film might be a bit unconventional in the traditional terms of a Christmas movie, but this hilarious and trippy musical horror absolutely fits the bill. Set in the small town of Little Haven, a zombie apocalypse breaks out right around Christmastime. Anna, along with her closest friends, must rely on each other to fight (and sing!) their way to safety. While this film doesn’t focus solely on an LGBTQ+ character, Anna’s lesbian friend, Steph, most certainly shares the spotlight with the main protagonist. Steph’s casual inclusion is definitely welcomed, especially when it comes in the form of her kicking zombie butt.
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Rent
Rent may not strictly be a holiday movie, but it does take place during Christmastime. While some of the ideas are somewhat outdated by today’s standards, Rent stands the test of time as one of the most influential pieces of LGBTQ+ media. Following a group of friends in the early 1990s during the peak of the AIDS crisis in New York City, Rent explores LGBTQ+ characters and allies from many walks of life. The film centers on this group’s struggle to survive a pandemic, and a society that would rather see them dead. However, their desire to live their lives authentically helps them push through these obstacles.
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Single All the Way
After years of his family hounding him about being single, Peter, an LA-based social media strategist, excitedly plans to bring his new boyfriend, Tim, home for the holidays. However, Tim has been lying to Peter, and is actually secretly married to a woman. Absolutely heartbroken, Peter convinces his friend, Nick, to come along and pretend to be his boyfriend instead. The lie would be better than facing another year of his family shaming him for being single. Upon arriving at his family home in New Hampshire, Peter finds out that he’s been set up with a local spinning instructor. The pair end up hitting it off, much to Nick’s dismay.
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Tangerine
Taking place in Hollywood on Christmas Eve, Tangerine follows the lives of two trans sex workers, Sin-Dee and Alexandra. After Alexandra tells Sin-Dee that her pimp (and boyfriend) has been seeing a cisgender woman, Sin-Dee storms Hollywood in search of her boyfriend’s lover. She eventually crosses paths with the woman, Dinah, and, as expected, a fight breaks out. However, things take an unexpected turn when Sin-Dee takes Dinah to a local bar where Alexandra is performing to see her show. The movie offers an interesting insight into the lives of these women, and how one man can manipulate them all.
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The Bitch Who Stole Christmas
Starring RuPaul as well as other Drag Race alum, this Christmas comedy follows a work-obsessed fashion journalist to a small town for a potential story. This humble town proves to be harsher than the large city when she learns about a winter pageant that local housewives compete in – and they’re ruthless! The journalist ends up falling in love with a local hottie, and she somehow gets caught up in the fierce competition. With a fabulous cast, which includes Peppermint, Gottmik, Ginger Minj, and more, this film is pure Christmas camp at its finest, making it the perfect LGBTQ+ holiday pick-me-up movie.
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The Christmas House
The Christmas House was the first Hallmark Channel film to focus on an LGBTQ+ couple – a major step for the holiday network. In the movie, Bill and Phylis invite their two sons for one last holiday in their childhood home, however Bill and Phylis haven’t told their sons they plan on selling the house. But, they aren’t the only ones hiding secrets. One of their sons, Mike, is an actor who’s going to be unemployed because his current TV show hasn’t been renewed. Meanwhile the other son, Brandon, along with his husband, Jake, have been attempting to adopt a child, but have been unsuccessful. Of course, everything comes to a boil, and what better time for this to happen than during the holidays!
