Interracial Lesbian Love and Adopted Kids: The Fosters Is One to Watch

Last year, we heard that Jennifer Lopez was producing a scripted pilot about a multi-ethnic family with two moms. Now, that pilot is a full-fledged ABC Family TV show, The Fosters. (Watch a

According to the network:

The Fosters are a bi-racial couple who are raising a biological son along with several other adoptive children. Lena is an altruistic school principal, who is determined to save children. She decides to take in Callie, a “troubled” teen with an abusive past whose ways will turn the family lives upside down. Stef is a tough yet kind police officer who isn’t as eager to add to their family. Lena tries to introduce new children to the family, not always with Stef’s knowledge.

From the looks of it, the show bounces between the drama of the teens and the struggle of the two moms holding the family together.

As Women And Hollywood reports, ABC Family consistently includes LBGT characters in its programming, and is one of only two networks ever to receive an “excellent” score by GLAAD’s Network Responsibility Index. The network has a history of progressive, inclusive shows: In 2009, ABC Family aired a TV version of 10 Things I Hate About You, in which the lead character, Kat, was an outspoken self-proclaimed feminist. In 2010, the network greenlit Huge, the series about kids at weight-loss camp — with a very racially diverse cast. Switched At Birth, which premiered in 2011, is considered to be “the first mainstream television series to have multiple deaf and hard-of-hearing series regulars and scenes shot entirely in ASL [American Sign Language].” Basically, if you’re overlooked on regular network TV, you’ve got a place at ABC Family, wedged somewhere between Bunheads and Pretty Little Liars. Even if it’s a gimmick, it’s an important one: How we entertain ourselves — TV, film, music, pop culture — is one of the touchstones that defines a society; when it comes to featuring women, gays, people of color, and other underrepresented folks, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.

In the trailer, Teri Polo’s character says “We’re definitely not the Brady Bunch.” A blatantly obvious signal to viewers — look how different we are! — but also a refreshing reminder that it’s not 1969. We’re living in a new era, with all different kinds of families. Unlike that ABC show called Modern Family — you know, the one where the women don’t have jobs — The Fosters actually feels apropos for 2013.