Modern Family is breaking new ground in its eighth season.
The family comedy is set to feature an openly transgender child actor on Wednesday’s episode, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
In the episode, titled “A Stereotypical Day,” Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) have Lily’s transgender friend Tom over for a playdate. Although the couple have always felt they were the most open, nonjudgmental and supportive parents, they must take a closer look in the mirror when they overhear Lily insulting her new friend. They ultimately use the moment to teach Lily a lesson about acceptance.
Tom will be played by 8-year-old trans actor Jackson Millarker.
Transgender actors have seen their profiles rise in recent years, particularly on the small screen. However, Millarker is one of the first openly transgender child actors to appear on television.
The news comes as Laverne Cox prepares to make history later this year playing the first full-time transgender character on broadcast television in CBS’ midseason entry Doubt. Nashville is also set to introduce a recurring transgender actress, Jen Richards of I Am Cait fame, when it returns for its fifth season in January. Earlier this year, MTV’s Faking It tapped trans actor Elliot Fletcher to recur as a trans character for what would be its third and final season.
On the unscripted side, transgender teen and activist Jazz Jennings headlines her own TLC docuseries, I Am Jazz.
Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
