Hutchins' will be laid to rest on July 24.
HGTV stars, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new Magnolia Network recently featured a same-sex couple on their series “Back to the Frontier.”
“Back to the Frontier,” which also streams on HBO Max features families as they “leave the 21st century behind to live as 1800s pioneers.”
IMDb describes the series as a “bold social experiment that will test their strength, stamina, and sense of humor.”
One of the families featured on the show is the Hanna-Riggs family which features, dads Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs and their 10-year-old twin sons.
After the premiere of the first episode of the inaugural season on July 10, son of Evangelical pastor Billy Graham, Franklin Graham took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his thoughts on the show.
“I hope this isn’t true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series. If it is true, it is very disappointing,” his tweet read. “While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word. His Word is absolute truth. 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.”
Chip Gaines seemingly responded to the backlash with a tweet of his own, defending the Hanna-Riggs family and others like them.
“Talk, ask (questions), listen.. maybe even learn,” Chip Gaines wrote. “Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never. 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.”
In response to Chip Gaines’ tweet, conservative social commentator Joel Berry wrote, “You’ll see no hate from me. I’m just sad. I can’t let my kids watch your show now, since I’m trying to protect their eyes and hearts from the lies of the world—lies you’re now participating in.”
“Also, filter out some of the online vitriol and consider taking to heart some of the substantive concerns and heartbreak from the Christians who make up your fanbase,” Berry continued. “We should love the sinner—that doesn’t mean we celebrate and promote the sin and participate in the multibillion dollar industry dedicated to destroying the family.”
“Don’t be sad Joel,” Chip Gaines wrote in response. “Plenty of other stuff out there. I’m sure everyone will be fine. BUT I sincerely appreciate the advice about taking some of the thoughtful, heartfelt, encouraging constructive criticism to heart.. and I certainly will.”
Chip and Joanna Gaines launched Magnolia Network in 2022.
Following the backlash, Hanna told Queerty that he is “super honored that when they were choosing three modern-day families, they did choose a same-sex couple as a modern-day family, because we are. We are your neighbors and your coworkers.”
