Jesse Tyler Ferguson's performance as Mitchell throughout 11 seasons of Modern Family was instrumental in bringing LGBTQ+ representation to primetime television on a broadcast network. In 2022, Ferguson brought to life the character of Mason Marzac in the Broadway revival of Take Me Out — once again lending his talents to tell a story of how gay people exist within a greater context.
Partnering studios MSNBC Films and The New Yorker Documentary are releasing a new short film, It's Okay, on Sunday, August 11. Directed by David France, the film subtly explores how the LGBTQ+ community, trans people, and drag performers are dealing with the recent rise of hatred against them among conservatives. Even behind the cameras, as a producer in the film, Ferguson seems determined to challenge prejudices by showing people exactly what they're so scared of… and as it turns out, what's so scary about that, after all?
"We were in New York City a few weeks ago and we walked home from dinner in one of those perfect New York evenings," Ferguson tells Out. "It was me, [husband] Justin [Mikita], and our son, Beckett. We walked by an event that was spilling out from a restaurant and had a red carpet outside on the sidewalk. Nina West, who is an acquaintance of mine, was on the red carpet, so she came over to talk to us and give us all hugs."
Ferguson recalls, "Nina picked Beckett up, and Beckett was sort of admiring her makeup, her huge hair, her big tits, and her sparkly gown. He was just sort of taking it all in. It was almost in the same way that he took in Santa Claus. It was just wonderment and excitement. Like, 'What is this creature?' And the only question he had for Nina West was, 'Why are your hands so big?' It wasn't like a man in a dress. It wasn't anything else. He just wanted to know why the hands were so big."
Modern Family and Ferguson — along with costar Eric Stonestreet, who played Mitchell's husband, Cameron, in the series — introduced audiences in the U.S. and around the world to the idea that gay people could be a loving couple that also got into fights from time to time. They were incredible parents who also had no idea what to do in certain situations. They loved to spend time with their relatives but also had silly little gripes with family members at times.
Set in North Carolina, It's Okay tells the story of two young brothers and their mom attending their first-ever Drag Story Hour. The event is held by a drag artist, Shelita Bonet Hoyle, who seems slightly anxious while examining the crowd but immediately puts everyone at ease as she starts telling a sweet little story to the children.
"David France, who's a friend of ours, is a wonderful director. We worked with him on Welcome to Chechnya, and I love and respect him so much," Ferguson says. "I was looking for something to do with him beyond Welcome to Chechnya, and we started discussing something around the drag bans. We both have friends in the drag community, so we spoke about how disappointing and heartbreaking it was that Drag Story Hour was being politicized in the way that it was… being othered in the way that it was."
Ferguson continues, "We had the idea to do this very simple short film that gives us a slice of life of what it's like for two kids to experience Drag Story Hour for the very first time. I'm just so thrilled with the way it turned out. I think it says so much with so little — and that, I think, is a mark of any good storytelling."
MSNBC FilmsWhen Modern Family premiered in 2009, gay marriage still wasn't legal nationwide, and a mainstream platform for drag artists like RuPaul's Drag Race was just getting started airing its low-budget first season on Logo TV. Over the years, as Ferguson and his queer peers ushered in a new era of LGBTQ+ visibility that we're all thankful for, our community also became an even bigger target for conservative rhetoric.
As a Tony Award-winning actor and a five-time Emmy Award nominee, Ferguson is constantly telling stories that highlight the LGBTQ+ community. But as a married man for over 10 years and a father of two adorable kids, what's his take on this unrelenting narrative from conservative voices labeling our community, as well as our stories, as "dangerous" to kids?
"I mean, I would be lying to you if I said that it wasn't terrifying," Ferguson says. "I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico in a time when it wasn't super safe to be out and gay. I wasn't out at that time. I was a teenager. If anyone knew I was gay, I felt like it would be a death sentence for me. I really wouldn't have survived. And it's interesting, as a 48-year-old man now with two kids, a loving husband, and an incredibly happy marriage, that I'm feeling those same pangs of fear all these years later."
He goes on, "There's only one common denominator: the bullies. Those bullies that I dealt with in the schoolyards in my Catholic high school are now just older men who are making laws, and it's really terrifying. It's ridiculous that there are so many parallels and commonalities between those children who act like assh*les on the playground and these people who are making laws. It's really shocking, and I worry about my family and my kids."
"I'm fortunate enough to live in Los Angeles," Ferguson says. "I feel like there are protections put up around us, so we don't have to fear walking down the street like a family together. But there are other places where I do still feel that, and it's heartbreaking. I look at my kids, and they look at their papa and their dada, and they have so much love for us. They look to us to protect them."
He continues, "I'm scared about the times that they're growing up in and the rhetoric that they could be hearing on TV… the thought of them feeling other or less than because they hear something on television or get wind of a law being passed or a Drag Story Hour being banned. It's very frightening, because they're very intuitive, and they pick up on everything."
Still, Ferguson is "always looking to expand how [he] can tell stories," which is often the most powerful way for artists to fight back against prejudice-driven political agendas. When asked if his work as a producer inspired him to get into writing and/or directing, he doesn't rule it out.
"I have thought about directing," Ferguson says. "I find that I'm drawn mostly to stories that uplift the LGBTQ+ community, so I'm always looking for opportunities to help people tell those stories — whether it be as a writer, as a director, or as a producer. If attaching my name to something is going to help a new writer get a beautiful script made, then I'm all about helping them do that."
He adds, "A lot of people held the door open for me, and now I feel like I'm in a position where I can certainly crack the door open for other people. I'm very happy to expand the way I tell stories, not just in front of the camera, but behind as well."
Last but certainly not least, we ask Ferguson about drag performers who have inspired him, and the It's Okay producer is delighted to highlight actress, singer, drag performer, trans trailblazer, and Broadway darling Jinkx Monsoon.
"I've become very, very friendly with Jinkx Monsoon," he explains. "She's someone who obviously has been carving her own path, and I'm so proud of how she's been embraced by the theater community. Being able to come into New York and play these cis women on Broadway… I mean, that's huge."
He adds, "Jinkx is a perfect example. Seeing Jinkx Monsoon on stage in Chicago or on Little Shop of Horrors brings people so much hope. Like, 'If Jinkx Monsoon can play these roles, then why can't I? Why can't I do things that are maybe on the page not necessarily an obvious choice?'"
"That representation is so important," Ferguson concludes. "It helps people dream big, and it helps them create these personas that are then celebrated. I think we're all inspired by what we see, and Drag Story Hour is just another way for kids to feel inspired."
It's Okay premieres Sunday, August 11 at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC and The New Yorker's digital platforms.
