Post submitted by Digital Strategist Brandon Hooks and Associate Director of Digital and Social Media Hayley Miller

Since first airing in 2009, “Modern Family” has introduced us to characters who truly depict the rich diversity around us. Cam and Mitchell’s relationship highlights the progress of same-sex couples across the country - from full marriage equality to adoption rights - and shows the viewing audience that LGBTQ people are just like them.

The show’s cast has advocated for the queer community off-screen as well, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett) and husband Justin Mikita - member of both the HRC and HRC Foundation Board of Directors - advocating for the Equality Act.

Thank you @JesseTyler Ferguson and @JustinMikita for joining @HRC and partners to pass the #EqualityAct.

This critically important legislation would finally add explicit and consistent federal LGBTQ non-discrimination protections to our nation’s civil rights laws. pic.twitter.com/tB8uMbrJK3

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 3, 2019

In 2010 at our 14th annual National Dinner, HRC presented the National Arts & Culture Award to “Modern Family.”

HRC also honored cast member Ty Burrell with the Ally for Equality Award in 2014.

Sofía Vergara joined HRC’s #StoptheHate Pulse memorial video, created by Ryan Murphy, Ned Martel and their colleagues at Ryan Murphy Television, honoring the 49 lives taken – most of them young, LGBTQ and Latinx - in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016.

It is hard to believe that back when the show first aired on September 23, 2009, marriage equality wasn’t the law of the land and both the Defense of Marriage Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” were still on the books. So much in our country has changed since the show first aired 11 years ago, but its messages of love and acceptance and the value of family are more relevant now than ever before.

Be sure to sign HRC’s digital thank you card to the cast and crew of "Modern Family" for the show’s 11 groundbreaking seasons.

You can watch the Pritchett family one last time during the series finale on April 8.