‘Merry & Gay’ Is Full of Queer Representation and Holiday Cheer

If you are looking for a queer holiday rom-com that’s going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, then allow us to suggest Merry & Gay, the flagship film for the new LGBTQ streaming platform DIVABoxOffice.tv. The network, which launched December 1, is a partnership between A Baker Production and DIVA Magazine, the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQ women and nonbinary people.

Merry & Gay tells the story of Sam (Andi René Christensen) and Becca (Dia Frampton), two childhood friends and former high school sweethearts. Sam stayed in their small town, while Becca moved to the big city to pursue her dream of becoming a Broadway singer. Now that Becca’s coming home for the holiday season, their well-meaning but meddling mothers (Hayat Nesheiwat and Janet Ivey), hatch a plot to reunite the two.

This is the fourth holiday rom-com from veteran writer, producer, and director Christin Baker, known for her critically acclaimed, queer feature films Christmas at the Ranch, I Hate New Years, and Season of Love. Showcasing an upbeat, holiday-inspired soundtrack, Merry & Gay features all original music, including songs by Frampton, Rachel Dye, and composer Everett Young.

OFM caught up with Christensen to talk more about the film, their character, and how they are the first nonbinary actor to star in a holiday rom-com.

Can you begin by telling us what audiences can expect from Merry & Gay?

A very, very sweet, lighthearted, genuine, queer holiday rom-com. It’s got some original music in there by the wonderful Dia Frampton, and I would go so far to say it’s quite PG except for maybe five seconds. It just depends on who you ask. It’s a very heartfelt story that you can’t help but laugh and smile at. You’ll feel warm and fuzzy after you watch it.

Is there anything in particular you hope viewers take away from the film?

Yeah, the fact that queer stories are just stories. I think it’s important to acknowledge that. It’s part of why we do them, but one of the beautiful things about Merry & Gay, the fact that it’s about two non-cis, hetero people, it’s irrelevant. I think we’re getting closer to being the norm, where queer folks are just people.

Merry & Gay is also the premiere film for the new LGBTQ streaming platform Diva Box Office. How exciting is that?

Yes! I actually wasn’t sure what was going on yet for a while, and then Christin Baker, the film’s writer and director, she sent out that email about what was happening, and what an honor. It’s really cool, and I think it’s a good choice simply because, as I mentioned before, the amount of heart behind it and the fact that it’s such a positive film. It’s such a great way to launch something groundbreaking.

As an actor, what did you enjoy the most about being involved with this project?

I like to say, it was like a little snow globe in the middle of Tennessee (laughs). Truly, just imagine taking a globe, flipping it upside down, and watching the snowfall. We existed in a really cool little Christmas bubble in the middle of nowhere, Tennessee, outside of Nashville. All the actors that were flown in from Los Angeles, we all lived together for the two weeks that we were filming, so we kind of lived in a Hallmark movie.

Instant chemistry among everyone.

Absolutely. Oddly enough, I already knew one of the actors that was being flown in from LA, and I had no idea she was cast. So, that was cool, and we all got very close very quickly. I think that also had something to do with the nature of the film.

What initially drew you to this project?

Honestly, it kind of came out of left field. Lissa Forehan, one of the producers, she found me on social media, and I’m not good at social media. That in and of itself was a surprise. But first of all, it’s a rom-com. Like, how cute is that? How much fun to work on something like that? Then the fact that it was on location. You get paid to go on vacation for a bit, and there was nothing but positivity surrounding this story. Upon reading it, I immediately felt like that was going to be the case on set. Then learning more about Christin and Dia and what they’ve been involved with in the past, it just felt right.

Can you tell us a bit more about your character, Sam?

Interestingly enough, we’re not super dissimilar, aside from our names being androgynous, so to speak. I like Sam because they are kind and very, very gentle, and I like to think that’s the better part of me. I’m learning gentleness even more because I grew up in Texas, and you know, being queer in Texas, you’ve got to have an edge. They also love Becca so much and want nothing more than to support her dreams. Honestly, (they) support everyone around them. Sam cares about everybody and wants them to be happy, even if that means being a little self-sacrificing, which I have done in my past.

Being nonbinary yourself, you are playing a nonbinary romantic lead in a rom-com. How significant is that?

You know, I didn’t realize that until we were part of the way through filming. Somebody was like, yeah, this is the first nonbinary lead in a holiday rom-com, and I was like, no, seriously? They researched it, and it’s totally true. I was like, that is nuts, but it makes sense because nonbinary and trans characters are only just now starting to gain traction in mainstream media.

I guess it didn’t really register simply because that’s who I am, and it’s not a part of the film in any real way. Sam’s just a character, just a person. Now that it’s premiered, it feels bigger, and I’m very grateful to take that on. It feels extremely appropriate to be approaching that professionally at this point in my life because I am finally figuring out who I am, and I wouldn’t have been ready to be that prior to this period of my life.

Have you always had a passion for acting?

Yes. I was the only grandkid for about 11 years, and I was always very bubbly and happy. Over time, it’s kind of like, I would be in the middle of the living room doing Jim Carrey impersonations, but I think a lot of it came from the fact that I like helping people feel. Back in the day, it was about positivity, laughter, smiles, all that stuff. Now, it’s more about helping people feel things that maybe they couldn’t otherwise. But yes, it has been a longtime passion.

I first got signed with a modeling agency in Houston when I was 15, and I never did community theatre. I was always in the film and TV world, mostly doing commercials and stuff, but I actually dropped out of UT Austin two and a half semesters in and transferred to a conservatory in Manhattan. My dad was very mad, but I told him I knew I was getting in, and after that, it was just full steam ahead. In my mid to late 20s, a lot of major life events happened that derailed my momentum in my career.

I did a lot of writing at that time as well. I started working on a lot of scripts, so I have a little quiver in the background of all those, but it’s not my focus these days. Obviously, my focus is acting and being in front of the camera because I think it’s time.

What are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your career?

I’ve wanted a Spirit Award since I was 12. I would say maybe once I get another decade under my belts, I’ll start, like most of us, getting into more writing and directing. That’s another niche that’s not filled. We need more nonbinary folks behind the camera, too. But honestly, I just want to roll with whatever comes my way. I try not to have too many expectations because I’ve seen so many things happen in my life that I had absolutely no control over.

I do see commercial success, and I want to continue to push the queer, nonbinary, trans wave. I want to continue to help that along, but never stopping grassroots movements trying to support the community and reaching out to youth. It would be great if we could get new legislation in places like my home state to help those kiddos as well. So, my hope for my career is that I continue to be in a position in which I can participate in true cultural change.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?

I am currently filming Season 2 of Bel-Air on Peacock. My character is nonbinary; their name is Monia, and they’re a social media influencer who is a leading relationship, sex-positive, advice counselor. Unlike me, Monica is a bit more femme-of-center. So, I like the fact that they show another side of what nonbinary might be. Then there are some other things kind of on the horizon, but I can’t confirm them quite yet. So, I’m just continuing down that queer entertainment path.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Christensen by following them on Instagram @andirenechristensen. Merry & Gay is streaming exclusively on DIVABoxOffice.tv.

Photos courtesy of Josiah Clark