Backlash Ensues after Chip and Joanna Gaines Cast Queer Couple on Their Reality Show

Television tycoons Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new reality series that puts three modern families in the context of the 1800s American frontier... and it features a married gay couple and their kids.

Streaming now on HBO Max, "Back to the Frontier" replicates frontier life from more than a century ago as three families adapt to wooden houses with tiny bedrooms, surrender their electronic devices, and come to grips with the rustic realities of using outhouses.

The depiction of frontier life is as authentic as you can get on a 21st century reality show – and the truth about human love and diversity is authentically included, as well, in the casting of same-sex couple Joe Riggs and Jason Hanna and their children.

"Among the couples includes Jason and Joe Hanna-Riggs, a same-sex couple who have two sons," Men's Journal noted.

Men's Journal described the Gaineses as "popular HGTV personalities who created their own TV network and have a massive following from Evangelical Christians," while the Daily Beast recalled that they "starred in the HGTV show 'Fixer Upper' and are now executive producers on 'Back to the Frontier,'" and now they're "taking serious heat."

"The Gaineses have dealt with same-sex controversy before," the Beast recalled. "'Fixer Upper' never had a same-sex couple, and in 2016 the pair platformed a pastor who had spoken out against LGBTQ rights. That year the couple donated to Chip's sister, Shannon Braun, who had spoken out against teaching critical race theory."

"I was on board with the whole concept of continuing to normalize same-sex families," the Beast quoted Riggs saying, with Riggs going on to add that, "because of our adoption issues, there's a need [to recognize] that other families are having these struggles still – and in plenty of other states – so it was just important for us to continue to spread that message."

Predictably, haters came swarming from the woodwork, pointing to the Bible and dismissing the Hanna-Riggs family – and the Gaineses, too – as "sinners."

The American Family Association's Ed Vitagliano took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse the Hanna-Riggses of being an "unbiblical" family.

"'Back to the Frontier' promotes an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and family – a view no Christian should embrace," Vitagliano said.

Chip Gaines suggested that this was the entire point, responding in a social media post with, "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."

Gaines suggested an alternative to pearl-clutching and hyperventilation, tweeting that the show's religious-right critics might take a moment instead to "ask, listen.. maybe even learn."

"Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture," Gaines added. "Judge 1st, understand later/never".

Even as faith-citing homophobes continued to bash down, flooding Gaines' X account with bile, one faith-based supporter encouraged Gaines with, "Hang in there Chip."

"As a pastor - I just love people!" the comment went on to add. "My job/your job/our job/ is not to convict people of sin. That's the Holy Spirit's job!"

The fan drew on the Gospels directly to remind those viewing the post of what the New Testament actually says: "By this will all know that you are my disciples, when you love when one another!"

The Hanna-Riggses took to social media, as well – not to engage trolls, but for an altogether more wholesome reason: to celebrate the family experience of being on the show.

"We are extremely honored to be one of the three modern day families going #BacktotheFrontier because visibility matters and so important," the Hanna-Riggses posted on their Instagram page.

"The first several days adapting to our new reality wasn't easy," they added. "We had so many things we had to figure out in just the first few hours before sunset just to get through that first evening."

Still, "Thank you @magnolianetwork @hbomax @chipgaines @joannagaines for this incredible journey and experience and these forever lasting memories!" the family posted, along with photos from the show.

Watch a trailer for the show below.