ABC’s Modern Family is one of the most-loved mockumentary-style sitcoms in pop culture. With nearly 10 million viewers tuning in per episode, it’s one of the most-watched shows out there. Set in Los Angeles, the series follows three couples, including a gay couple that changed the way queer relationships appeared on mainstream TV. In 2009, we met Cameron and Mitchell, aka Cam and Mitch, living together with their adopted daughter. Honestly, they pretty much stole the show.
It was actually the first time a major network showed a long-term, committed queer relationship, giving us this iconic duo. When Modern Family first aired, LGBTQ characters made up only 3% (just 18 total) of all primetime scripted series regulars. Fast forward to 2020, and that number jumped to 90 LGBTQ regulars, proving that Modern Family left a significant mark on TV history.
While Cam and Mitch might not be the most authentic representation of the gay community, Modern Family does a decent job showing that gay couples are just like everyone else. They want to get married, have kids, be part of the family, and live normal lives. However, at times, they come across as an idealised version of what being a gay couple is really like. Plus, they enjoy certain privileges that many in the LGBTQ+ community find hard to access.
It leads me to wonder, “What if Cam and Mitch lived in India?” Hmm. That would be a whole different story!
Cam and Mitch: From Beverly Hills to Rural India
Cam and Mitch are two white men living in Los Angeles, one of the most liberal cities in the USA. They reside in the affluent Westside, close to Beverly Hills. I wouldn’t say they’re filthy rich, but they definitely sit comfortably in the middle or upper-middle class.
Now, let’s consider life in India. If you belong to a certain class, are upper caste, have some generational wealth, identify as LGBTQ, and live in an urban area, things might be a bit easier for you. But for those “Cam and Mitch” from financially disadvantaged, rural Indian backgrounds? Not so much.
The reality for the LGBTQ+ community in India paints a pretty grim picture. Many face abuse at home and get ostracised by their communities. It leads to high dropout rates in schools and limited access to formal education. This educational disadvantage restricts their job opportunities, creating a cycle of poverty.
India has one of the largest hidden LGBTQ+ communities due to fear of ostracism, harassment, and even imprisonment. The reasons for staying in the closet are endless. Locally, people tend to be very conservative in their dress and attitudes. Basically, India has all the characteristics of a typical cisgender, heteronormative society. While there’s some acceptance of transgender individuals, society still struggles to fully embrace sexual minorities for who they are.
Can and Mitch say, “I Do”, while India says, “Not Yet.”
In the season finale of Modern Family, Mitch and Cam tie the knot in a picturesque outdoor ceremony at a golf club. Meanwhile, in India, same-sex marriage remains off the table, with no legal recognition for civil unions or partnerships. Sure, there’s some limited acknowledgement of cohabiting same-sex couples through live-in relationships, but that hardly counts as a celebration of love.
Indian society sets some pretty strict timelines for marriage. Like, you better be hitched by 30, and if you’re a woman, it’s even better if it’s by 25! We are expected to marry someone picked out by our parents or elders, who likely have no clue what we actually want. In this rigid societal structure, queer marriage simply doesn’t fit.
So, while Mitch and Cam enjoy their fairytale ending, many in India face a reality that feels more like a lavender marriage. Here, marriage becomes a necessary compromise in a society that doesn’t fully accept their identities.
Complicated family planning
When Cam and Mitchell adopted a daughter in Season 1, Modern Family achieved another milestone by positively portraying LGBTQ families. However, in India, the situation is quite different. As of October 2023, gay couples are not permitted to jointly adopt a child.
The Supreme Court ruled in a 3:2 split verdict that unmarried couples, including queer couples, cannot adopt together. The court acknowledged that sexual orientation does not determine a person’s suitability as an adoptive parent, yet upheld existing regulations that prevent unmarried couples from adopting. The court also ruled that a queer person can only adopt in an individual capacity.
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that same-sex couples and live-in partners don’t qualify for surrogacy and assisted reproduction laws, claiming it’s to prevent “misuse” and ensure kids have a “complete family.” The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act of 2021 outright bans homosexual couples from using altruistic surrogacy services. Critics argue that this focus on “familial altruism” and the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals is both unfair and stuck in outdated morals.
Cam and Mitch would face a Kanta Ben situation
Remember Kanta Ben from Kal Ho Naa Ho? The house help who freaked out every time she saw Rohit Baba and Aman having a “bro moment,” assuming they were gay? Her disgust at the mere thought of Saif Ali Khan’s character being gay might have been played for laughs. However, it reflects a reality that is all too common.
If Cam and Mitch had tried hiring house help in India, would the situation have been any different? Do we honestly think many people would be open-minded about working for a gay couple? We highly doubt it. When the majority of house help comes from less educated, traditional backgrounds, a situation like this would probably be met with raised eyebrows, if not outright hostility.
The final thoughts
Let’s just say the current scenario in India for the LGBTQ+ community is not exactly the most welcoming for our favourite fictional couple, Cam and Mitch. But they are fictional, after all. Now, think about the real people living here, navigating a world that still struggles to accept them while hoping for progress, laws, and a society that will actually support their right to love, live, and be who they are.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we broadly define as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
