Gay couple in modern family
‘Modern Family’ Finale: How Cameron and Mitchell Forever Changed Gay Families on TV
When “Modern Family” premiered in 2009, the mockumentary-style family sitcom was an instant hit, one that would forever alter the fabric of the television landscape. At the time, it seemed water cooler discussion of primetime television had gone the way of the radio, but — much like that other medium — it came roaring back. While Sofia Vergara’s Gloria waltzed her way into the hearts of gay men and lesbians for wildly diverse reasons, it was Cameron and Mitchell’s loving association that made LGBTQ viewers feel truly seen and represented.
Played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, seeing a loving (and bickering) gay couple on primetime was a uncovering. Without downplaying the strides made by “Will & Grace,” “Modern Family” was the first time a major network had shown a long-term, committed homosexual relationship — and with two of its primary characters. That the illustrate was funny, smart, and inclusive in other ways was the cherry on top.
To fully grasp the monumental nature of this milestone, it’s im
Gay dads Mitchell and Cameron of ABC’s “Modern Family” were looking for a preschool for their daughter Lily in the Oct.
20 episode of the hit series. Mitchell was worried that a mistake to get into the “right” preschool would have a negative impact on Lily’s future. They come to consider, however, that they’ll be a shoe-in for the most prestigious preschool in town. Even though they’re white, they’re a gay couple with an adopted Asian daughter, and schools love to brag about their diversity. Things move awry, of course, when an interracial lesbian couple, one of whom is in a wheelchair, show up with their African-American adopted daughter. Cam and Mitchell have just been out-diversified.
Wait. Is there a second warp? I experience like I’ve just been transported advocate to 2008, when Showtime’s “The L Word” featured moms Tina (white) and Bette (half ebony and half white) trying to receive their daughter Angelica into preschool. Bette was stressing about what not getting into a excellent preschool would indicate for Angelica’s college prospects. They consider they’ll have a good shot, though, since Angelica is a “bi-racial daughter of lesbian moms” — but then they meet a white gay male couple trying to ge
Dispelling Gay Stereotypes in Family Television: Contemporary Family’s Cameron (Cam) Tucker and Mitchell (Mitch) Pritchett
Ariana Romio
After following Modern Family (2009) for the past several years and touching on themes and investigation in class, I felt that the show both challenges and displays traditional gay stereotypes and serves as a strong subject for analysis. While the general show is not solely focused on LGBTQ characters, as there is a mix of all different positionalities throughout the series, the characters I will focus on are Mitchell (Mitch) Pritchett and Cameron (Cam) Tucker.
About the Show
Created in 2009 by co-creators and producers Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan and aired on ABC, the show follows an untraditional family through their daily lives. Jay Pritchett is the patriarch of the family; father to Cam and Claire, husband to Gloria and step-father to Manny. Claire is married Phil Dunphy and together they have three children: Haley, Alex and Luke. At the beginning of the series Cam an
An easy response to why no one’s that offended at Modern Family is that, while Cameron and Mitchell are gay, they aren’t that gay. Sure, they talk about theater, they savor themed brunches, and they gesture with limp wrists. But they’re not … y’know. Fa-LA-ming.
This sort of critique is, of course, dismissive to a wide swath of gay culture. Not every gay male needs to fit a particular, narrow stereotype. To insist on that – or to act surprised when someone steps outside it – reduces identity to a series of signals. And what’s worse, they’re rather blunt signals. Not every gay guy has to be a loud, gossipy Liza Minelli fan.
And yet it’s worth considering, at least from the standpoint of cultural critique. Prior to the late 00s, gay characters on primetime television were primarily about their gayness. Their reason for existing was to be gay in a place. Some of them are simply neurotic and uptight (Will of Will and Grace); some of them are spastic and emotional (Will’s friend Jack, also of Will and Grace). But their sexuality was a defining feature. The point of Will being male lover in Will and Grace is so the two title characters can have a long-term friendsh