On ABC’s Modern Family, Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays one half of a gay couple raising a daughter helping to normalize the notion of families beyond the stereotypical nuclear norm. Off-screen, Ferguson is also an out and proud gay man, which is one of the topics he covers in a new video released Monday, August 16 by Fight Back NY.
In the video, Ferguson talks about how great it is that Proposition 8 was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. He also has some other wonderful news: he has a crush — and they’re getting married. Unfortunately, Ferguson wants to get married in New York, where a few senators voted against gay marriage rights last year.
“We can’t get married in New York. And you wanna know why? Because a bunch of stupid senators last years voted against my rights and the rights of hundreds of thousands of others that just want to marry the person that they love. Yeah. It’s ridiculous. So I’ve joined Fight Back New York’s efforts…. It’s taking on those senators who voted against my rights. It’s kicking them out of office, and it’s replacing them with senators that will do the right thing.”
Fight Back New York has been established for the express purpose of getting those senators who voted against marriage equality rights replaced. According to the organization’s website, “Once we replace enough anti-equality senators with pro-equality senators, we will close up shop.” The group is targeting not just senators who voted directly against marriage equality, but also those who block other bills that impact LGBT safety and rights.
By helping Fight Back NY members in their cause, you can help Jesse Tyler Ferguson marry the subject of his crush, who is revealed later in the video. Except there’s a bit of a snafu — the object of Ferguson’s affection is none other than Alec Baldwin who, as the video’s director informs Ferguson at the most inopportune of moments, is not gay. Awk-warddddd. Oh well, you’ve gotta love a man who can smile even in the face of adversity.
Learn more about Fight Back NY.