Jennifer Lopez says aunt inspired her to produce lesbian drama 'The Fosters'

Jennifer Lopez has said that she decided to produced the upcoming two-mom drama The Fosters as an homage to her gay aunt.

The series, which premieres June 3 on ABC Family, is an hour-long drama which centers on a lesbian couple who are coping with raising three children when a wayward teenage girl moves in. One of the women is a police officer (played by Teri Polo, Meet the Parents), the other a private school teacher (Sherri M. Saum, Rescue Me). Together they are raising a biological son and adopted teen twins of opposite sexes.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Lopez discussed the love she had for her aunt.

"I had an aunt who was gay and I lived with her and I loved her," Lopez explained. "She just passed away from cancer and I thought of her often when I was thinking of taking on this project and the prejudices that she faced. She was so much a part of my life. I mean, she was my mom's sister, she was always there for us and she was a great person. She didn't have her own family and I often wonder if she wanted it. We never talked about it. She just had her life the way it was and I just thought about it and it was kind of like an homage to her."

"When I read the script I just really felt like although it was a non-traditional family and it had kind of those newer themes to it, it had some really basic themes as well about family and love and what's really important in life. You know, that life can be complicated and messy sometimes, and not simple, and it was really, really a true depiction of family in this day and age."

"It's smart. It's edgy. And ti's heartfelt," she added. "There's a lot going for it."