Could this be the first time a television cast launches a public campaign to make a character queer?
We’re going to go with ‘yes,’ but you’ll have to watch Modern Family next season to find out if it’s a successful one.
Sarah Hyland, who plays Haley Dunphy, went rogue on Twitter last week to address a fan theory that her character is bi. She feels certain that she is, despite not having consulted with the writers.
“I don’t know what the writers would say? But I confirm,” Hyland tweeted to a fan who asked if the theory was true.
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Related: ‘Modern Family’ star goes rogue, confirms fan theories that character is bisexual
Now Ty Burrell, the actor who plays Hyland’s TV dad, has thrown support at the potential character development.
Hollywood Life asked Burrell what he thought of Hyland’s unauthorized tweet.
“I would support it 100%,” he said.
He continued: “You know, our show has established itself as very forward thinking about that kind of stuff. So, yeah. I mean if it happens I’d be happy and I’d be very supportive!”
Your move, Modern Family writers room.
Creamsicle
Makes sense to do it. In a show all about how a family deals with living in a more accepting time while remaining ridiculous and hilarious it makes sense that gay (I use the term as an umbrella) identities should be freely explored without any of the characters needing to be pained about it. There’s an entire generation of gay men and women whose coming out was not as fraught with anxiety and fear as the generation just before it. The difference in their experiences is ripe for both drama and comedy.
Mitch has talked about his coming out in bite sized stories, but it would be great to see the entire family come to terms with another gay family member and whether or not that is a different process because she’s young or because she’s a woman or because the family now has the language and the experience to deal with it without the entire world collapsing around them because of it.
Jaxton
Male bisexuality is far more important than female bisexuality. The law has always persecuted males, not females. In the 19th century, bisexual men were hanged for engaging in same-sex relations. Women were never hanged and nor were they persecuted.
Bisexual women – including fake ones – have NEVER suffered as much as bisexual men.
Creamsicle
Jaxton, maybe the show could actually begin talking about that difference in experience then. If they choose to do it right then it could be the best media representation of the disparity between how bisexuality is perceived between men and women.
If she gets inundated with sleazy dudes who want three ways with her and another girl despite her bisexuality having no bearing on whether or not she is monogamous, then that’s actually legit. I’d love to see that experience depicted with a side of comedy to make it not as harsh to a mostly straight audience. Maybe then people will begin to finally understand how messed up the double standard is and how damaging it can be to bi men.
DCguy
Yes, but it’s Modern family, that means if she DOES come out as Bi they will never get her into another relationship, and if they do, they will write a fake storyline claiming that the other woman has intimacy issues and that’s why they never hold hands or even smile at each other.
And if Cam is any example, they will make any girlfriend she has one of two things. Either so ridiculously masculine as a caricature as bad as Cam, or they will make her a stripper or something along those lines to appeal to the pervy producers of the show.
AJAnders
I’m not against the idea but I think her character was matched perfectly with Andy, played by Adam Devine. If he ever comes back to be a reoccurring character, I’d rather see them together.
I think Sarah is really throwing some breadcrumbs here anyway. It’s the writers who decide if the character is gay/straight/bi, not the actors.
Jaxton
We want male bisexuals on TV, not female ones. Female bisexuality is a tired, worn-out trope.
Male bisexuality on Ametican TV is as rare as hen’s teeth. What exactly has Hollywood got against male bisexuality?
And what exactly do gay men have against bisexual guys? They don’t go along with your political rainbow? They destroy girl power?
nickedbeater
Since Nolan Gould has been cute since puberty and now is hunky beefcake, some sexual “experimentation” would’nt be too much to ask for, I would think. “Luke” might walk on the wild side sometime?
Jaxton
Liberals are always more comfortable with female bisexuality than male bisexuality. That’s because liberalism is controlled by the sleazy straight guy fantasy.
The sleazy straight guy fantasy seeks to ban or erase male bisexuality. The female bisexual also seeks to erase male biseuality as it does not benefit her.
Women who play the role of the female bisexual – and that includes faking it for men – are often extremely homophobic about male bisexuality.
Brian
You’ve made your point… again and again and again. We don’t care.
DCguy
Actually, if we’re being honest, the son of Claire and Phil does come off a bit gay as well. Hell make both of them Bi. IT isn’t as if that would be the first time a family has had two lgbt kids.
Creamsicle
Yeah his character always seemed like a little gay dork. They’ve written him as a bit of a goofy jock in recent years, but it almost feels unnatural, like the kind of aggressive girl craziness that’s used as a front to distract people from the fact that he’s bi-curious. He went from goofy little kid to little hotdog in one or two episodes and it never felt quite right.