'Modern Family' Gets a Little More Respect

I thought I had sufficiently raved about Modern Family last week, giving you the top 10 reasons to love the show, but now I learn that there's even more reason to give the ABC freshman sitcom props. If the 14 Emmy nominations weren't enough of a sign of respect, now the actual Respect Awards will honor the show, courtesy of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

The Respect Awards "recognize individual and corporate leaders who have helped propel GLSEN's efforts to ensure safe schools for all of America's students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression." As fans of the show are aware, two of the main characters, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), are gay, first-time parents, with an adopted daughter, Lily. The honest portrayal of the couple is just one of the reasons the show was honored.

As GLSEN's executive director, Eliza Byard, noted in a press release, "As a lesbian mother of two, I am grateful to see a show like Modern Family offer an honest and often hilarious look at family experiences frequently overlooked or ignored in prime time. From its positive portrayal of gay parents to its handling of school bullying, Modern Family provides an invaluable window into what family life is like for millions of American youth."

The sixth annual award show, which will also honor Out & Equal Workplace Advocates and GLSEN's Educator of the Year, takes place in Los Angeles on October 8 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Photo via ABC Medianet.