Jesse Tyler Ferguson described the critical reception of his character, Mitchell Pritchett, in Modern Family as predominantly coming from the gay community. Despite the criticism regarding representation, the characters were groundbreaking for LGBTQ+ visibility on network television. A poll indicated that shows like Modern Family influenced public opinion positively towards gay marriage. Ferguson acknowledged the pressures of representing a gay man on a popular show and pointed out the campaign from fans for more intimacy in the couple's portrayal, which resulted in a special episode addressing the issue. He reminded audiences that he portrayed only one individual character.
Ferguson noted that despite the criticism from the gay community regarding his portrayal, he always viewed it with a grain of salt. He emphasized that he represents one character, not the entire LGBTQ+ community.
He stated that the characters of Mitch and Cam were trailblazing as one of the few stable gay couples on American television, reflecting the significant pressures of portraying a gay man on such a widely viewed show.
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