Make the Yuletide Gay

Make the Yuletide Gay
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Rob Williams
Produced by	Rodney Johnson Matthew Montgomery Rob Williams
Written by	Rob Williams
Starring	Keith Jordan Adamo Ruggiero Hallee Hirsh Kelly Keaton Derek Long Alison Arngrim Ian Buchanan Gates McFadden
Music by	Austin Wintory
Cinematography	Ian McGlocklin
Editing by	Denise Howard
Studio	Guest House Films
Distributed by	TLA Releasing
Release date(s)	2009
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Make the Yuletide Gay is a 2009 American romantic comedy film about a gay college student who is "out" at school, but is afraid to reveal his sexual orientation to his parents.^[1] The Christmas-themed film was written and directed by Rob Williams. It stars Keith Jordan as Gunn, and Adamo Ruggiero as Gunn's boyfriend and roommate, Nathan. Kelly Keaton and Derek Long star as Anya and Sven, Gunn's parents, while Hallee Hirsh appears as Abby, Gunn's high school girlfriend.

Make the Yuletide Gay premiered at the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival on May 17, 2009.^[2]

The title of the film comes from a line in the 1944 Judy Garland hit recording, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Cast

• Keith Jordan as Olaf "Gunn" Gunnunderson:^[3] Gunn is a college student who is openly gay at school. Back at home, his parents, neighbors, and high school friends think that he is straight. Gunn is afraid that his parents will stop loving him if they find out that he is gay. When he goes home for Christmas, he has to change the way he dresses and his personal mannerisms in order to maintain his heterosexual façade.
• Adamo Ruggiero as Nathan Stanford:^[3] Nathan, an openly gay college student from a wealthy family in the Upper East Side, is Gunn's boyfriend and dorm roommate. Unlike Gunn, Nathan is completely open about his sexuality, including with his parents.
• Hallee Hirsh as Abby Mancuso:^[3] Abby lives across the street from Gunn, and they had a brief romantic relationship while they were in high school.
• Kelly Keaton as Anya Gunnunderson:^[3] Anya is Gunn's jovial, happy-go-lucky mother. She grew up in Wisconsin and is a housewife.
• Derek Long as Sven Gunnunderson:^[3] Sven is Gunn's forgetful, pot-smoking father. He grew up in Minnesota and is a professor at the local college.
• Alison Arngrim as Heather Mancuso:^[3] Heather is Abby's mother. Heather and Anya pretend to be friends, but they secretly despise each other.
• Ian Buchanan as Peter Stanford and Gates McFadden as Martha Stanford:^[3] Peter and Martha are Nathan's wealthy, emotionally-detached parents. They decide to go on a cruise, leaving Nathan all alone for Christmas.

Reception

Awards

^[2]

Year	Festival	Award	Category
2009	FilmOut San Diego	Audience Award	Best Narrative Feature Best Supporting Actress, Kelly Keaton Best Supporting Actor, Derek Long
2009	Seoul LGBT Film Festival	Audience Award	Best Feature
2009	Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival	Jury Award	Best Men's Feature
2009	North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival	Men's Centerpiece Selection
2009	Philadelphia QFest	Festival Favorite
2009	Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival	Gala Night Film

DVD release

Make the Yuletide Gay was released on DVD on November 10, 2009.^[1]

See also

• List of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-related films by storyline

References

1. ^ ^{a b} allmovie - Make the Yuletide Gay
2. ^ ^{a b} Make the Yuletide Gay - Awards
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} IMDb - Make the Yuletide Gay - Full cast and crew

External links

• Official website
• Make the Yuletide Gay at AllRovi
• Make the Yuletide Gay at the Internet Movie Database
• Interview with Rob Williams (writer/director) and Keith Jordan (actor) of Make the Yuletide Gay on YouTube