One year after its rival network the Hallmark Channel sparked controversy by pulling an ad for Zola that featured a same-sex wedding, Lifetime has announced The Christmas Set Up, its first-ever holiday movie to center around an LGBTQ romance.
As the Hollywood Reporter notes, “The movie will follow Hugo, a corporate lawyer in New York who heads home to Milwaukee for the holidays, where his mother arranges for him to run into his secret high school crush, Patrick. As their mutual attraction grows, Hugo is faced with a decision to accept a promotion in London or remain in Milwaukee.”
It is one of 30 new movies that will air during Lifetime’s annual holiday block, and it’s part of a larger push for diversity and inclusivity among the network’s Christmastime fare. The channel will also air A Sugar & Spice Holiday, which is centered around a Chinese-American family, and Christmas Ever After, which will star actress Ali Stoker, who uses a wheelchair.
“We are thrilled to continue our legacy of creating a holiday destination that is welcoming to all at Lifetime,” Amy Winter, Executive VP and Head of Programming at Lifetime and LMN, said in a statement. “With more new movies than any one cable network for streamer, I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible talent joining us in front of, and behind the camera, on these new holiday movies.”
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