Jennifer Lopez is developing a TV series for ABC Family about two lesbian moms, Deadline reports. Will the hour-long drama give us an authentic (albeit fictionalized) portrayal of a lesbian-headed family? Will it stay away from tired clichés, like “the wacky search for sperm”? Will J.Lo sing and dance about baby strollers?
The answer to the first two is “it very well could.” Deadline tells us the show involves “a lesbian couple who suddenly have their already child heavy household turned upside down when a wayward teenage girl moves in. One of the mothers is a cop, the other is a private school teacher. They have one biological son and adopted teen twins, one a boy, the other a girl.”
Phew. No sperm-related antics. I also like that the show’s creators have chosen to depict a variety of family-creation methods.
Additionally, I’m heartened by the fact that both parents seem to have rather modest jobs. As UCLA’s Williams Institute recently reminded us, LGBT people are more likely to be poor than the general population. Not that the couple in the show seems poor—but they may offer more economic diversity than we’ve seen across shows like The L Word, Will & Grace, The Kids Are All Right, and Modern Family, which all showcase upper-middle-class existence. A cop and a teacher seem like they will be more likely to watch their pennies than did the lawyers, doctors, and museum directors of the other shows.
With Lopez at the helm, perhaps the show will offer greater racial and ethnic diversity as well. (Deadline notes, however, that Lopez will not have a leading role herself, although she may guest star.)
Also among the executive producers is Peter Paige, the out actor best known for his role in Queer As Folk. As After Ellen reminds us, a gay producer is no guarantee of a show we’ll like (they cite Glee; I’ll add the last two seasons of The L Word), but it ups the odds.
After Ellen reminds us, too, that ABC Family was originally founded as part of Pat Robertson’s Christian television ministry. It was then sold to Fox and became Fox Family before finding its current home with Disney/ABC. From televangelism to lesbian moms. Who’d have thunk?
After Ellen has a comment thread going on who we’d like to see cast on the show, so hop on over and leave your thoughts.