Jesse Tyler Ferguson might be busy planning his own forthcoming nuptials, but that didn't stop the "Modern Family" star from hitting the pavement to push for marriage equality in Illinois.

"I can't imagine who's a fan of ['Modern Family'] would want to deny Mitchell and Cameron the chance to get married, if for nothing else, for amazing TV," Ferguson, who is openly gay, told the crowd during a stop in Springfield. "A vote for marriage equality today does not diminish the unions of millions of citizens enjoying traditional marriage. It does nothing to threaten this infrastructure, and yet a vote for marriage equality does everything for us."

Ferguson and his fiance Justin Mikita have also launched a not-for-profit organization called "Tie the Knot" that sells limited edition bow ties, with proceeds going to charitable organizations that support same sex marriage.

Although an Illinois Senate committee voted in favor of a measure to allow same-sex marriage earlier this week, the absence of a number of supportive lawmakers in Springfield delayed a floor vote, according to the Associated Press.

H/T Good As You


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  • New York

    Since July 24, 2011

  • Maryland

    Voters in Maryland approved marriage equality in the November 2012 election. Initially, the gay marriage bill was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on March 1, 2012 but opponents gathered enough signatures to force the issue back onto the ballot. With the passing of marriage equality, same-sex marriage ceremonies are set to begin on January 1, 2013.

  • Connecticut

    Since November 12, 2008

  • Iowa

    Since April 3, 2009

  • Maine

    Maine made history in the November 2012 election when it became the first state to pass marriage equality on the ballot. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said, "Voters in Maine came to the common-sense conclusion that all people deserve the ability to make loving, lifelong commitments through marriage." Just three years ago, a popular vote overturned legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

  • Massachusetts

    Since May 17, 2004

  • New Hampshire

    Since January 1, 2010

  • Vermont

    Since September 1, 2009

  • Washington D.C.

    Since March 9, 2010

  • California

    The state initially began conducting gay marriages on June 16, 2008. On November 5, 2008, however, California voters passed Proposition 8, which amended the state's constitution to declare marriage as only between a man and a woman.

  • Washington

    On February 13, 2012, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed a law allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies to begin on June 7, 2012. The process was delayed by gay marriage opponents who gathered enough signatures to put the issue up to a state vote in November 2012. Gay marriage passed on November 7, 2012. The official determination for Washington did not come until one day after the election because of the state's mail-in voting system.

  • Rhode Island

    Gay marriage came to Rhode Island when Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the marriage equality bill it into law on May 2, 2013.

  • Delaware

    Delaware obtained gay marriage when Governor Jack Markell signed the marriage equality bill it into law on May 7, 2013.

  • Minnesota

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/minnesota-gay-marriage-legal-_n_3275484.html" target="_blank">On May 14, 2013</a>