“As an American white male, it’s hard to be perfectly diverse,” said Chip. “In our own company, we’ve got nearly 700 employees, and one of our biggest passions is making this group represent all people.”
On July 10, “Back to the Frontier” debuted on HBO Max in partnership with Magnolia Network. The day the show premiered, Chip posted about it on X, saying, “Y’all are going to love this show!! Social experiment + family time well spent.”
About “Back to the Frontier”
The reality show follows three families as they “re-imagine their lives as 1880s homesteaders” and voluntarily give up the comforts of modern life, such as their devices, indoor plumbing, electricity, and makeup. Stacey and Joaquin Loper are one family joining the experiment with their 12-year-old and 14-year-old sons and Joaquin’s 72-year-old mother. At the end of the first episode, the Loper family prays together before going to sleep.
A second family is made up of parents Jereme and Lina Hall, along with their 18-year-old and 16-year-old daughters and their 11-year-old son. The third is Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs and their twin 10-year-old boys.
Hanna and Riggs have said that one reason they wanted to be on “Back to the Frontier” was to normalize same-sex families, in part because of the challenges they have faced with adoption. Hanna said that a flyer for the show caught his attention because it featured a gay couple.
A Divided Reaction Emerges
Chip Gaines received quite a few comments on his July 10 post from people questioning why he and Joanna were behind the show. “Why are you promoting homosexuality as a Christian?” asked cultural commentator Jon Root. “Why compromise on the Bible’s clear teachings on this? Why support homosexuals buying kids? Disappointed would be an understatement…”
Chip replied by quoting 1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
“I really felt the hope, and gentleness and respect here,” said Chip.
RELATED: Chip and Joanna Gaines Transform an Emergency Girls Shelter into a ‘Comforting Place to Land’
“Why not answer the questions, Chip?” Root responded in part. “Why are you promoting gay marriage & gay surrogacy on your show as a Christian?”
“Family time, Chip? Two homosexual men with two boys are not married and that is not a family,” said author and evangelist Justin Peters. “God defines marriage, not the court system and every child needs a mother and a father. You claim to be Christians and yet you are effectively denying the faith.”
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