The state of Illinois has received a strong push and some high-profile support in its efforts to become the next state to legalize same sex marriage from Jesse Tyler Ferguson who stars in ABC’s Emmy Award winning sitcom “Modern Family”. NBCChicago reported on Wednesday that the star appeared at a news conference with Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon to voice support for gay marriage in Illinois. Ferguson his positive portrayal as a gay married character on the show helps change minds on the issue.
“I think there’s a lot of people who aren’t comfortable with marriage equality,” said Ferguson. “So they get to turn on the TV and see a show that has a lot of different families in it, and one of those families just happens to be gay, and they’re realizing that they’re having a great time watching the show and watching a gay couple that’s having a lot of the same problems and issues.”
The General Assembly in Illinois is considering marriage equality legislation when they return for the January session. The state hopes to join, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Iowa, and Washington state as the 10th state where same sex marriage is legal.
Ferguson is not only a good ally and supporter because of his character on “Modern Family”, he is also engaged in to fiancé Justin Mikita. The couple have been together for over two years and teamed up with the Tie Bar to create a collection of bowties with proceeds being donated to various organizations that help LGBT couples in their quest for equal and civil rights. Marriage equality advocates and supporters are expected to converge on Springfield Thursday for a Bow Tie Lobby Day.
The “Modern Family” star is emotionally connected to the issue of marriage equality and believes being vocal and active is the best method of support. Ferguson hopes to show that “treating any American as a second class citizen is just not OK.”
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