Jesse Tyler Ferguson has responded to a
Tennessee lawmaker's claim that Modern Family's gay content
makes it inappropriate for children.
At a Tennessee House subcommittee
hearing considering public testimony on state Senator's Stacey
Campfield's proposed bill which would outlaw the discussion of sexual
minorities in Tennessee's public schools before the ninth grade –
dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” bill – Chairman Joey Hensley, a
supporter of the bill, responded to a pastor's comment that children
who watch Modern Family might have questions on the subject of
sexuality. Hensley said he did not think the show was appropriate
for children.
Appearing Tuesday on ABC's The View,
Ferguson said not talking about gay people doesn't make them go away.
“It seems really, really ridiculous,”
said Ferguson, who is openly gay. “I mean, if we just don't say
things, it's not like they don't exist.”
“If you don't want to talk about it
in schools, OK I'm fine, but don't make a bill about it. Because it
puts us in really dangerous waters. It makes these kids feel like
they are being stigmatized,” he added.
Co-host Sherri Shepherd said she did
not want her children learning about the topic in school because
teachers could frame being gay as a choice. (The video is embedded
in the right panel of this page. Visit
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