Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson has expressed his disappointment that the ACT's same-sex marriage laws were struck down by the High Court as momentum builds to bring the hit comedy to the national capital.
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Ferguson, writing on a blog, said he was excited that Modern Family would be filming an episode in Australia next month, saying he loved the country and was confident the fight for marriage equality would eventually triumph in both Australia and the United States.
The popular actor even pledged $10,000 of his own money "toward the marriage equality efforts in Australia".
Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita visited Australia late last year soon after the nation's first same-sex marriage laws were passed by the ACT Assembly in October. The laws were struck down by the High Court in December, but not before 31 same-sex couples tied the knot in the ACT.
"Like many marriage equality advocates we were saddened to hear that Australia's High Court recently overturned the law that legalised same sex marriage in their great country," Ferguson wrote this week.
"A marriage equality bill had JUST passed the parliament in October, so our hearts went out to those people who were suddenly stripped of those rights. Couples who had wed in that short window had to face the reality that their marriages were now annulled.
"Having been through a similar situation with Proposition 8 here in California, we could really empathise with the frustration and sadness of those who supported and fought for marriage equality. Newlyweds ourselves, Justin and I kept thinking how devastated we would have been if suddenly we were no longer recognised as a legal couple."
ACT acting chief minister Andrew Barr, one of the few openly gay politicians in Australia, has extended an invitation to Modern Family to film in Canberra, perhaps focusing on Ferguson's character Mitchell and his same-sex partner Cam (Eric Stonestreet).
Mr Barr has also made no secret of his ambition for Canberra to be "the most LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) friendly city in Australia" and the ACT's same-sex marriage laws made headlines around the world.
Mr Barr on Thursday even suggested an event for the lovable couple to attend.
"Mitchell and Cameron are most welcome at the special 20th anniversary screening of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert at the National Film and Sound Archive next month," he said.
Ferguson and his husband started the lobby group Tie the Knot, selling bow ties and other neckwear to help fund organisations "fighting for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans every single day".
Writing on his blog at the website (http://tietheknot.org/blog/) in the wake of the announcement Mod-ern Family would film in Australia, Tyler suggested the trip down under would be an opportunity to put marriage equality back in the spotlight.
"Tie The Knot has always focused its efforts on marriage equality in the United States, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is a great opportunity to bring attention to the journey toward marriage equality that Australia is currently embarking on. We have great faith in their strength and perseverance. So much so I am personally pledging $10,000 toward the marriage equality efforts in Australia," he wrote this week.
"When Justin and I started Tie The Knot, we branded it with the owl to signify patience through the long, hard journey of gaining equality. This fight isn't a quick one in the United States, and it won't be in Australia either. But together we can make a difference!"
The Modern Family shoot in Australia is the result of a partnership between Qantas, Twentieth Century Fox Television and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products.
The entire cast will join co-creator and executive producer Steven Levitan for the visit to Australia. Locations and dates have yet to be announced.
