CBS Network's Home for the Holidays Special Will Feature First Gay Couple

A gay couple will be featured for the first time in CBS's 16^th annual Home for the Holidays TV special, reports Variety.

Scheduled to air December 19, the annual special aims to promote awareness of children in foster care who are in need of adoptive families. This year's telecast will highlight the story of Rich Valenza, a gay man who adopted a 5-year-old and 4-year-old brother and sister shortly before he met his now-partner Jared Gee.

The special is produced in association with the Children's Action Network and highlights stories of adoptions mixed with musical performances. Jennifer Hudson, Train, Earth Wind & Fire, Rixton, and Katharine McPhee are included in this year's lineup of musical guests.

"Family is not based on sex or your partner. Family is defined by love," Hudson told The Advocate last month after she joined the Turn it Up for Change campaign, an initiative which raises funds to fight for LGBT civil rights around the country. Hudson also revealed that she enjoyed being involved an any project that furthered LGBT visibility, such as this year's groundbreaking inclusion of a gay family in Home for the Holidays.

"As long as people continue to get behind marriage equality, then they'll have no choice but to give in. It's as simple as that," she said.