--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think every time there's a show like…" description: "\"I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or 'Will & Grace' that portray gay and lesbian characters and is successful, it just further ope..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg" --- # I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or… ![“I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or 'Will & Grace' that portray gay and lesbian characters and is successful, it just further opens the door.” quote by Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg) > “I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or 'Will & Grace' that portray gay and lesbian characters and is successful, it just further opens the door.” [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Positive representation of LGBTQ+ characters in popular shows helps broaden societal acceptance. **In simple terms:** Shows with gay characters increase acceptance. Key Takeaway Support inclusive media. Themes representation acceptance media Mood hopeful inspirational Type cultural educational When to use this quote - TV programming - advertising - policy advocacy Key Concepts Sociology culture studies Questions to Reflect On - How can media further promote inclusion? - What impact have you seen from such shows? A Different Perspective Representation alone may not change deep biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-successful-1542425/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-lesbian/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Lesbian Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian-characters-1542426/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-family/) [Portray Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portray-gay-1542424/) [Queer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queer/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I've known gay people - men and women - since I was a young person. To me it's just naturalistic and realistic to portray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/i-ve-known-gay-people-men-and-women-since-i-was-a-young-person-to-me/) [Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/) > [I love that we've chipped away at the celluloid closet and have wonderful programs that feature gay and lesbian characters in really rich, fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/i-love-that-we-ve-chipped-away-at-the-celluloid-closet-and-have/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [Being a black lesbian myself, I roll my eyes a little bit when I see black lesbian characters on shows where it's purely there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/being-a-black-lesbian-myself-i-roll-my-eyes-a-little-bit-when-i-see/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [There was a point in the latter 1990s at which, suddenly, every sitcom and drama in sight had to have a gay or lesbian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/there-was-a-point-in-the-latter-1990s-at-which-suddenly-every-sitcom/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [I think about 'Will & Grace,' and I think about 'Modern Family,' and the way that being gay has become sort of middle America...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-think-about-will-grace-and-i-think-about-modern-family-and-the-way/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I think that people with differing points of view find common ground in 'Modern Family' is very flattering, and I'm appreciative of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-that-people-with-differing-points-of-view-find-common-ground/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Right now the producers of 'Modern Family' have no idea how many people watch our show each week on all platforms, and nobody seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/right-now-the-producers-of-modern-family-have-no-idea-how-many-people/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [With drama, especially, it seems like the bigger the budgets and the edgier the characters, the more interesting they are. We're very lucky because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/with-drama-especially-it-seems-like-the-bigger-the-budgets-and-the/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. But I also believe that gay and lesbians and gay and lesbian couples,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-marriage-is-between-a-man-and-a-woman-but-i-also/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I know my own truth. I'm in a great relationship with a woman. Maybe before it used to bother me. Then I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/i-know-my-own-truth-i-m-in-a-great-relationship-with-a-woman-maybe/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [I'm not ashamed in the least bit of being gay or being a lesbian. I just prefer to call myself gay for some reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/i-m-not-ashamed-in-the-least-bit-of-being-gay-or-being-a-lesbian-i/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/since-1993-i-have-had-the-rich-satisfaction-of-knowing-and-working/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [ Of course, we're supportive of the gay and lesbian community. I've just never portrayed that on camera. Once I met Taylor \[Schilling\] I knew… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-prepon/of-course-we-re-supportive-of-the-gay-and-lesbian-community-i-ve-just/) [Laura Prepon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-prepon/) > [We say God did not intend anyone to be this way - to be gay or lesbian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulk/we-say-god-did-not-intend-anyone-to-be-this-way-to-be-gay-or-lesbian/) [John Paulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulk/) > [Our intention is to really explore this transition and, beyond that, explore the particular things that someone comes up against when they're gay or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-innes/our-intention-is-to-really-explore-this-transition-and-beyond-that/) [Laura Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-innes/) ## More by Steven Levitan > [I was raised Jewish, my wife was raised Catholic. Though we respect each other's heritage, and while many of our friends are deeply religious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-was-raised-jewish-my-wife-was-raised-catholic-though-we-respect/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I think that people with differing points of view find common ground in 'Modern Family' is very flattering, and I'm appreciative of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-that-people-with-differing-points-of-view-find-common-ground/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Sometimes you do have to scare people a little bit: if someone is not acting in the best interest of the show, then maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/sometimes-you-do-have-to-scare-people-a-little-bit-if-someone-is-not/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Twitter is fun - I'm a tech guy, I love anything new, I'm big on all that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/twitter-is-fun-i-m-a-tech-guy-i-love-anything-new-i-m-big-on-all-that/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [None of us grew up feeling like winners. So thank you to the bullies, to the popular kids, to the gym teachers who taunted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/none-of-us-grew-up-feeling-like-winners-so-thank-you-to-the-bullies/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I'm a little bit in shock, to tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-m-a-little-bit-in-shock-to-tell-you-the-truth/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Friends in the Midwest often ask me what it's like to raise a family in Los Angeles. I say it's just like where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/friends-in-the-midwest-often-ask-me-what-it-s-like-to-raise-a-family/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I acknowledge that Hulu's easy accessibility probably keeps some people from pirating. But a respected industry analyst says less than 5% of TV content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-acknowledge-that-hulu-s-easy-accessibility-probably-keeps-some/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [With drama, especially, it seems like the bigger the budgets and the edgier the characters, the more interesting they are. We're very lucky because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/with-drama-especially-it-seems-like-the-bigger-the-budgets-and-the/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [But at its core, 90 percent of my job is still sitting down in a room full of people, and breaking storiesand that requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/but-at-its-core-90-percent-of-my-job-is-still-sitting-down-in-a-room/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [What about the accusation that Hollywood is trying to advance its liberal agenda? Well, the fact is, while the creative community admittedly leans left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/what-about-the-accusation-that-hollywood-is-trying-to-advance-its/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Some estimate Hulu IPO could bring in $2 billion. What will the content providers get? Zero. What is Hulu without content? An empty jukebox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/some-estimate-hulu-ipo-could-bring-in-2-billion-what-will-the-content/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Right now the producers of 'Modern Family' have no idea how many people watch our show each week on all platforms, and nobody seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/right-now-the-producers-of-modern-family-have-no-idea-how-many-people/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I believe 'Hollywood' is more like middle America than many people imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-believe-hollywood-is-more-like-middle-america-than-many-people/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I once called the head of a network a liar. In hindsight, I should have called him an incompetent liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-once-called-the-head-of-a-network-a-liar-in-hindsight-i-should-have/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) [Explore all 17 Steven Levitan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or 'Will & Grace' that portray gay and lesbian characters and is successful, it just further opens the door.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Levitan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-modern-family-or-will-grace/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-modern-family-or-will-grace/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/steven-levitan-30230_character_i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-m_2553483.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or 'Will & Grace' that portray gay and lesbian…” — Steven Levitan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Levitan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think every time there's a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-modern-family-or-will-grace/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-modern-family-or-will-grace/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```