Chip and Joanna Gaines are defended by gay couple after conservative Christians rage at HGTV reality stars
This comes as the HGTV stars are facing backlash from conservative Christians for their 'unbiblical' casting on their new reality show.
Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs, a same-sex couple, and their children are one of three families featured on the Gaines' new Magnolia Network reality series, Back to the Frontier.
Following the show's premiere on July 10, the reality stars started receiving harsh criticism before the dads took to social media to defend the show.
Hanna posted 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.
His partner also shared a post thanking Chip and Joanna for casting them and standing by their decision to do so — even though nearly a decade ago, it was revealed that the Fixer Upper stars attend an Evangelical church, which believes 'homosexuality is a sin.'
'Representation matters deeply — especially for those who are still finding the courage to live their truth. When families like ours are visible, it opens doors for others to feel safe, loved, and validated,' he wrote in his Instagram Story post on Monday, per People.
'Visibility isn't just about being seen; it's about making sure no one feels alone,' he added alongside emojis of a rainbow and a red heart.
Riggs also shared a post in response to a headline about Chip 'clapping back at critics of the same-sex couple' on their new show and wrote: 'Thank you @chipgaines and @joannagaines for leading with love, listening and learning.'
The couple are executive producers of a new Magnolia Network series called Back to the Frontier, which drops three families near the Canadian Rockies and forces them to live like it is the 1880s for eight weeks.
The families have no access to modern technology, no electricity or running water, and must harvest all their own food and tend to livestock.
While the show sounds like must-see TV for Chip and Joanna's target audience, some viewers have expressed outrage over the inclusion of a gay couple on the cast.
Texas-based couple Jason and Joe Hanna-Riggs are married with two 10-year-old twin boys, who they welcomed via a surrogate in 2014.
The couple's post comes one day after Chip expressed his support for including them in their show in a post he shared on X on Sunday.
'Talk, ask questions, listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never,' he wrote. 'It's a sad Sunday when "non-believers" have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian.'
Chip's message appeared to be a direct response to Franklin Graham, the son of Evangelical pastor Billy Graham, writing on X that it was 'disappointing' to see the Magnolia Network show featuring the same-sex couple and their kids.
'I hope this isn't true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series,' Franklin wrote on Sunday. 'If It is true, it is very disappointing ... God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.'
Ed Vitagliano, who is VP of the American Family Association, insisted that the Magnolia Network should be 'expected to uphold' biblical values because the Gaines had been open about their faith in the past.
'This is sad and disappointing, because Chip and Joanna Gaines have been very influential in the evangelical community,' Vitagliano posted online.
'We aren't sure why the Gaines have reversed course, but we are sure of this: Back to the Frontier promotes an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and family – a view no Christian should embrace.'
Other viewers also turned their ire directly towards Chip and Joanna, slamming the pair for including a gay couple on the show.
Speaking to Queerty about their experience on the show, the Hanna-Riggs couple said that they learned throughout the process that LGBTQ homesteaders did in fact exist in the 1880s.
'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.
'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 into modern times.'
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