InQueeryNow: SPOTLIGHT: Meet "The Fosters"

Courtesyabcfamily.com

Its official! Despite the loud protests from One Million Moms and other "traditional" values groups, Jennifer Lopez's comedy-drama, The Fosters, aired its official trailer last week. This groundbreaking series stars the fierce Teri Polo (The West Wing) and Sherry Saum (Rescue Me) as lesbian couple Stef and Lena. The mixed-raced couple have a biological son and several adopted children. On the first episode, the family's world is turned upside down when Lena invites a rambunctious runaway to live with them.

The historic nature of the series goes without saying. But I'll say it anyways. This is historic. Multi-racial family depiction is slim, and never before has there been a series on American television centered exclusively on a two mom household. This is also political. Few television series get protested before they even have a season in the can. One Million Moms had this to say about the series:

Obviously, ABC has lost their minds…[they've] approved a series pilot from Jennifer Lopez’s production company, Nuyorican, about a lesbian couple and their diverse family…ABC Family reported the comedy-drama pilot, working with the title “The Fosters,” is about two women raising a “21st century,” multi-ethnic mix of foster and biological kids.

While foster care and adoption is a wonderful thing and the Bible does teach us to help orphans, this program is attempting to redefine marriage and family by having two moms raise these children together.

As dangerous as two women raising children together sounds, its not nearly as insidious as the statement it will make every single episode: "Our families are the same as yours. Our love is the same. Our struggles are the same. And if you don't want to give us a place at the table......we will make our own table. Because we are good at that sort of thing."

IMDb

According to the trailer, the series seems to be more focused on the lives of the children, which is great because who wants to see a "very special" episode about the difficulty of having a same-sex household every week, downer. I will be interested in how the show integrates the real issues faced by same-sex parents and the challenges of raising children in general. Very early reviews of the series compares it to the mamma bear of family shows, 7th Heaven. I wish it the same longevity and success. Be on the look out for my review of the pilot in June, and please tune in. In the midst of the real struggles that LGBT families face, true representation of our lives is the strongest weapon we have. Use it. Support it.

And a side note. I want to give a shoutout to ABC Family's consistent support of non-traditional characters and families in general. If you are not following this network, do because it is light years ahead in terms of queer representation and depiction of modern family life. Their slogan says it all: "A New Kind of Family."

And family is what its all about.

Below are a few great shows to consider.