ACLU Urges 'Modern Family' Producers to Marry Mitch and Cam

A new initiative of the ACLU, ACLU Action, has launched a campaign urging Modern Family writers to marry Cam and Mitch.

They write:

"The freedom to marry is being advanced in American living rooms as much as in court rooms," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "As we wait for the Supreme Court to rule, we want to keep this issue on the minds and screens of Americans everywhere."

ACLU Action aims to activate the ACLU's 750,000 online supporters to have a political impact through social media and new grassroots organizing tools, and to reach out to new audiences, with its message of equal rights for all. By calling on Americans to "RSVP" that they will watch Cam and Mitch get married, the campaign will let the "Modern Family" producers know that a wedding episode would be a ratings hit. The campaign will put marriage equality before new and younger audiences through social media channels.

ACLU Action plans to deliver the "guest list" created by this RSVP to the producers of "Modern Family," Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. The delivery will be timed to capitalize on the energy arising out of the landmark Supreme Court cases to be decided this summer, as the writers and producers are scripting the next season of "Modern Family."

Should you wish to join that list, you can do so here.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson reacted to the campaign via Instagram: "Love this! Thank you ACLU! Maybe once Prop 8 is overturned"

New PSA: Beware the Dangerous Individuals Who Oppose Marriage Equality — VIDEO

Check out this amazing new PSA narrated by George Takei and featuring Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Brad Goreski warning of the dangerous individuals who oppose marriage equality.

Says Takei: "There is one person living on this street whose orientation threatens to destroy society....Dale looks normal, but he gives off clues of his prejudice with buzzwords like 'pro-family', 'traditional marriage' or .... 'pole smoker'."

Check out "Gays Beware", AFTER THE JUMP...

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1317

TIE THE KNOT: Jesse Tyler Ferguson chats with Isaac Mizrahi about his bow tie collection for marriage equality. P.S. - they are on sale here.

STEVEN SPIELBERG: An animated tribute.

ANDERSON COOPER: Leave Anne Hathaway alone!

BUTTER VS MARGARINE: ASAP Science on the difference, and what cis and trans have to do with it.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson Speaks Out for Marriage Equality in Illinois: VIDEO

Jesse Tyler Ferguson joined Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon at the Thompson Center in Chciago on Wednesday morning to launch "Marriage Equality Days of Action" and then went to Springfield in support of the marriage equality bill, which, as I noted earlier, has been pushed to next session.

Watch him speak out for marriage equality in Springfield, AFTER THE JUMP...

(clip via good as you)

Murphysbro American adds:

Advocates also encouraged capitol visitors to don bow ties on Thursday in support of Bow Tie Lobby Day in Springfield, when a marriage equality bill could be called for a vote. Ferguson and Mikita recently launched a not-for-profit organization called "Tie The Knot," a foundation that sells unique, limited-edition bow ties, with profits going to charitable organizations that are working for marriage equality throughout the country.
 
"Justin and I are thrilled to be participating in Springfield's Bow Tie Lobby Day," Ferguson said. "Drawing attention to the importance of marriage equality at this level is exactly why we developed Tie The Knot. We are also excited to see how the citizens and legislators of Illinois do with their bow tying skills."

Illinois GOP Chairman Calling On Lawmakers To Support Marriage Equality

The bill to legalize marriage equality in Illinois is tangled up in technical red tape at the moment and won't be discussed until tomorrow, which gives Pat Brady, chairman of the state's Republican Party, more time to call up Republican lawmakers and push them to vote yes on allowing same-sex couples to tie the knot. That's precisely what he did today, because, like so most people in Illinois, Brady thinks the Republicans need to wake up and smell reality.

"I think it's time for people to support this," he said.

"More and more Americans understand that if two people want to make a lifelong commitment to each other, government should not stand in their way," he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "Giving gay and lesbian couples the freedom to get married honors the best conservative principles. It strengthens families and reinforces a key Republican value - that the law should treat all citizens equally."

Got that? "Honors the best conservative principles... Strengthens families." Incredible language from a Republican leader.

And to religious conservatives balking at equality, Brady reassured them, "Importantly, the pending legislation would protect the freedom of religion. No church or religious organization would ever be required to perform a union with which it disagrees."

Elsewhere in Illinois, Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon met this morning to put the finishing touches on Ferguson and fiance Justin Mikita's "Bow Tie Lobby Day," during which lawmakers and voters are supposed to wear a bow tie to show their support.

The Chicago Tribune reports on the actor's comments raising kids with Mikita and how Modern Family helped move the LGBT conversation forward and wh:

"I'm looking forward to raising a family with Justin and having our kids grow up in an equal America. I had a hard time coming out and certainly had struggles with my parents. … If the 12-year-old me had been able to turn on the TV and see a sitting president say he supports marriage equality, it would have made all the difference for me and certainly given me a lot of hope," Ferguson said.

Modern Family's popularity and presence in American homes has also helped the issue of marriage equality forward, Ferguson said.

"I think it's a bit like a Trojan horse. A lot of people who were not comfortable with marriage equality … turn on the television and see a show that has a lot of different families in it — and one of those families just happens to be gay. They're realizing they have a great time watching the show, then they're watching a gay couple that's having a lot of the same problems and issues they have. They realize 'Oh they’re not so different from me.' And at that point, we're in their living rooms," he said.

'Modern Family' Star Joins Illinois Lt. Gov. For Marriage Push

Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon are planning a fashion-forward action this week to push for marriage equality in The Prairie State.

On Wednesday, they're encouraging voters to call lawmakers and tell them to support marriage equality. Then, on Thursday, they're organizing Bow Tie Lobby Day at the General Assembly to get equality passed before the end of the current session. Supportive lawmakers have vowed to do just that.

More details, from The Southern Illinoisan:

Simon and Ferguson will be joined by marriage equality advocates to encourage Illinoisans to contact their legislators on Wednesday and join a Bow Tie Lobby Day in Springfield on Thursday that urges the General Assembly to pass marriage equality legislation during the January legislative session, according to a news release from Simon's office.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law, and right now we have a group of citizens that we are treating as second-class," Simon said. "Bringing marriage equality to Illinois is the right thing to do."

...

"Justin and I are thrilled to be participating in Springfield's Bow Tie Lobby Day. Drawing attention to the importance of marriage equality at this level is exactly why we developed Tie The Knot," Ferguson said. "We are also excited to see how the citizens and legislators of Illinois do with their bow tying skills."

Tie the Knot, for those of you who don't know, is Ferguson and fiance Justin Mikita's (pictured) organization that designs original bowties and donates a portion of the proceeds to marriage equality causes.

If Illinois' lawmakers make good and pass equality, it will be the 10th state to let same-sex couples marry. That's one-fifth of the country - not enough, but a solid base.