Ty Burrell was presented with an award
for his gay rights advocacy by his Modern Family co-star Jesse
Tyler Ferguson on Saturday at the 10th annual Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) Utah Gala Dinner at the Grand America Hotel in Salt
Lake City.
“Ty is an amazing guy and he's an
incredibly passionate advocate of equality,” Ferguson said in
presenting the award. “And the thing that makes Ty such an amazing
ally is his complete cluelessness. And I mean that in the best way.
His default mode is inclusiveness and fairness.”
In accepting his award, Burrell said
such an honor would not have been possible were it not for the
efforts of activists who came before him.
“I say this award comes to me because
of the hard work of others for two main reasons. Number one: It's
easier to be an ally for equality right now on Earth than it ever has
been. And that's due to the hard work and sacrifice, sometimes the
ultimate sacrifice, of so many thousands of people gay and straight
who helped us get to this moment.”
“Number two, because I'm part of a
show that's made a real difference in the way people view same-sex
relationships.”
“I'm honored to stand with you all
tonight, and, yes, I'm even humbled,” he added. (The video is
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