Love and Tradition Clash: Chip and Joanna Gaines Defend Gay Couple Against Christian Backlash
GAY-GATE ERUPTS ON HGTV: Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Show Back to the Frontier Sparks Frenzied Debate Over Gay Couple's Inclusion
In a dramatic turn of events, reality TV powerhouses Chip and Joanna Gaines are at the center of a controversy that has left fans of their popular Magnolia Network show, Back to the Frontier, reeling. The HGTV stars are facing backlash from conservative Christians after featuring a same-sex couple, Jason Hanna-Riggs and Joe Riggs, on their new series.
The drama began when critics slammed the Gaines for including the gay couple on the show, with some even calling it "unbiblical" and demanding that the network uphold "biblical values." The controversy only intensified when Franklin Graham, son of Evangelical pastor Billy Graham, took to social media to express his disappointment at seeing a same-sex couple featured on the show.
But in a surprise twist, Jason Hanna-Riggs, one half of the gay couple featured on Back to the Frontier, has come out swinging in defense of Chip and Joanna Gaines. In a series of posts on Instagram Story, Jason shared a screenshot of a news article with the headline "Conservative Christians rage at reality show for letting gay people on" and explained why he believes families like his should be shown on TV.
"Representation matters deeply — especially for those who are still finding the courage to live their truth," Jason wrote. "When families like ours are visible, it opens doors for others to feel safe, loved, and validated." He added, "Visibility isn't just about being seen; it's about making sure no one feels alone."
Jason's partner, Joe Riggs, also jumped into the fray, sharing a post that thanked Chip and Joanna Gaines for standing by their decision to include them on the show. "Thank you @chipgaines and @joannagaines for leading with love, listening and learning," Joe wrote.
The controversy surrounding Back to the Frontier has left fans of the show divided. While some have praised the inclusion of a same-sex couple, others have expressed outrage over what they see as a departure from traditional values.
But Jason Hanna-Riggs maintains that the criticism is unfair and that there's no reason why families like his shouldn't be featured on TV. "Well, from the homestead perspective, it was fascinating to learn that queer homesteaders existed — like, that's how a lot of folks kind of escaped, I guess, really being ostracized in cities," Joe said in an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com.
The couple, who are married with two 10-year-old twin boys and welcomed them via surrogacy in 2014, say they learned throughout the process that LGBTQ homesteaders did indeed exist in the 1880s. "They would go to the frontier as a couple. So it was a common thing back then, and it's kind of the resilience of LGBTQ+ folks then, as well as it continues to be into modern times," Joe explained.
As the controversy surrounding Back to the Frontier continues to rage on, one thing is clear: this show has sparked a national conversation about representation, love, and acceptance. Will you be tuning in to see how the drama unfolds? Let us know in the comments!
TheScholarlyNote.com Exclusive
In an exclusive interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Jason Hanna-Riggs opened up about what it was like to film Back to the Frontier. "It was a wild ride," he laughed. "But we were so grateful to be a part of it. We learned so much and had an amazing time."
When asked about the backlash they've faced from some fans of the show, Jason expressed disappointment but not surprise. "I think people are just scared of things that are different from what they're used to," he said. "But we're hopeful that people will see the beauty in our story and the love that we have for each other."
As for Chip and Joanna Gaines' decision to feature them on the show, Jason praised their courage and willingness to take a stand. "We're so grateful to them for standing by us and showing the world that love is love, no matter what," he said.
TheScholarlyNote.com will continue to follow this story as it develops. Stay tuned for more updates!
