‘Modern Family’ star Ferguson is engaged

‘Modern Family’ actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson (right) — shown here with partner Justin Mikita — are engaged to be married. (Washington Blade Photo by Michael Key)

Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his fiancé, Justin Mikita, announced their engagement today, along with the launch of a new charity project they’re calling ‘Tie The Knot.’

Emmy-nominated Ferguson — who plays Mitchell Pritchett, one half of a same-sex couple raising an adopted child on the award-winning hit ABC sitcom, Modern Family — says in the video, “It’s true, I popped the big Q.” ‘Tie The Knot’ will help raise funds in the fight for recognition of marriage rights for same-sex couples.

According to a press release, ‘Tie The Knot’ will work with neckwear retail outlet The Tie Bar, to offer an exclusive collection of men’s bow ties released each season starting this November. Though specific organizations aren’t specified, the press release says, all proceeds from the sales of the $25 ties “will go directly to various organizations across the country, currently in the trenches fighting for civil rights.”

Joining Ferguson and Mikita on the charity’s board is Craig Gartner of Gartner/Green Entertainment, a talent manager representing Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross and Lindsay Pearce who plays Harmony on Glee.

“Justin and I created Tie The Knot in the hopes that we soon see a day when millions of Americans across the country will have the basic civil right to marry the person they love,” said Ferguson in the press release. “When people purchase our bow ties, they’re raising funds that will help support marriage equality, and they’re doing it while looking damn good… I can’t wait for people to see what we have created!”