If you still think of Jonathan Bennett as just "the guy whose hair looks sexy pushed back," you've been missing out on a massive career evolution. Yes, Aaron Samuels is legendary. But honestly, the real-life man behind the character has a story that’s way more interesting than any teen movie script from 2004. People constantly search is Jonathan Bennett gay because for a long time, he was the quintessential Hollywood heartthrob who seemed just out of reach.
The short answer? Yeah, he is. He’s very out, very proud, and basically the "Gay King of Christmas" these days. But the journey from being a closeted actor in the early 2000s to a trailblazing Hallmark producer wasn't exactly a straight line. It involved a lot of hiding, some pretty intense bullying back in Ohio, and eventually, a proposal involving a custom-written song that would make even the toughest person "ugly cry."
The "Mean Girls" Era and the Pressure to Hide
Imagine being 23 years old and suddenly becoming the face on every teenage girl's bedroom wall. That was Bennett's reality after Mean Girls blew up. While everyone was obsessed with his chemistry with Lindsay Lohan, he was privately navigating a Hollywood landscape that wasn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for queer actors.
Back then, the industry vibe was basically: you can be a leading man, or you can be out, but you probably can't be both. Bennett has since opened up about how he felt he had to choose between his career and his truth. It wasn't just industry pressure, either. Growing up in Rossford, Ohio, he dealt with some pretty horrific homophobic abuse. He’s talked about being pushed into lockers and called slurs just for being in the theater department. Theater was his only safe spot—the one place where people didn't treat him like a "loser" but instead made him a star.
When fame hit, that old fear didn't just vanish. He stayed in the closet publicly for years, even while his career took him to Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and various hosting gigs. He’s admitted that the personal sacrifice of being closeted eventually became too heavy to carry.
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Coming Out and Finding Jaymes Vaughan
The "official" public coming out happened around 2014. It wasn't some massive, choreographed magazine cover at first; it was more of a gradual settling into his identity. But things got really "mainstream" loud when he met Jaymes Vaughan in 2016.
If you want a real-life rom-com, look at their first meeting. Jaymes was hosting Celebrity Page and Jonathan was there for an interview. Jonathan was so smitten he actually ran to the bathroom mid-press day to fix his hair and nervously asked his producer if he was about to meet his future husband.
Turns out, he was.
They’ve been a powerhouse couple ever since. In 2020, Jaymes proposed on the set of a Hallmark movie with an original song called "Our Song." They made history in 2021 as the first gay couple to ever grace the cover of The Knot magazine. Their wedding in March 2022 wasn't just a party; it was a statement. After a venue in Mexico allegedly turned them away because they were two men, they pivoted to the Unico Riviera Maya Hotel and turned the whole event into a celebration of LGBTQ+ talent, from the photographers to the performers.
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Why He’s Now the "Gay King of Christmas"
It’s kind of wild to see how much things have changed at Hallmark. A decade ago, the network was the last place you’d expect to see a queer lead. Jonathan Bennett basically kicked those doors down.
He didn't just want to be in the movies; he wanted to produce them. He was a huge part of:
- The Christmas House (2020): This featured Hallmark's first-ever same-sex kiss. Huge moment.
- The Holiday Sitter (2022): The first Hallmark Christmas movie where the central romance was a gay couple.
- The Groomsmen Trilogy: This actually won a GLAAD Media Award for its representation.
Bennett often says he doesn't make "gay movies for gay audiences." He makes gay love stories for broad audiences. He wants the grandma in the Midwest who watches Hallmark all day to see a gay couple and realize their love looks exactly like everyone else's. It's about changing hearts through the most "normal" medium possible: a cozy holiday rom-com.
Advocacy Beyond the Screen
It’s not all just fake snow and mistletoe. Jonathan and Jaymes are deeply involved in the community. They launched OUTbound, a travel company specifically for LGBTQ+ travelers, offering cruises and vacations where people can feel totally safe being themselves.
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He’s also received the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award and continues to be vocal about the "responsibility" he feels. He knows he’s in a position that the 16-year-old version of himself in Ohio never thought possible.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Allies
If you’ve been following Jonathan’s journey or just realized he’s a major advocate, here is how you can actually engage with the work he's doing:
- Support Inclusive Media: The reason networks like Hallmark continue to make movies like The Holiday Sitter is because the ratings are high. If you want more representation, watch the shows when they air.
- Look Into Inclusive Travel: If you’re queer or an ally, check out companies like OUTbound that prioritize safety and community in the travel space.
- Follow the Advocacy: Keep up with organizations like GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign, which Bennett frequently supports, to see where the current battles for representation are being fought.
Jonathan Bennett’s story is a reminder that you don't have to stay stuck in the box people built for you in high school. You can be the jock, the heartthrob, the husband, and the advocate all at once.
Next Steps for You:
Check out Jonathan's latest project Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+ to see how he's continuing to reshape the "leading man" archetype for a new generation.