Jackson Millarker, an openly transgender child actor, will appear in an upcoming episode that includes 'a lesson about acceptance.'
- September 28, 2016
AceShowbiz -
When Jeffrey Tambor pleaded with Hollywood to give transgender people a job during his Emmy speech, "Modern Family" already did the homework. The Emmy-winning sitcom has cast openly transgender child actor Jackson Millarker in an upcoming episode.
The 8-year-old actor from Atlanta, Georgia is the first openly transgender child actor who appears on a major TV series. He will play Tom, Lily's (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) transgender friend, in "A Stereotypical Day" that will air Wednesday, September 28 at 9 P.M. ET on ABC.
According to the synopsis, "Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) have always felt they were the most open, non-judgmental and supportive parents. However, when they overhear Lily insulting her new friend, they have to take a quick look in the mirror before they teach her a lesson about acceptance."
Ryan Case, who directed the episode, announced Millarker's casting in an Instagram post. "This is Jackson Millarker. He's 8 years old, from Atlanta, and just happens to be transgender. He plays Lily's friend Tom in this week's Modern Family and he's wonderful. One of the many reasons I love being a part of this show," she wrote along with her photo with the child actor.
Previous shows to have featured transgender characters played by transgender actors are "Orange Is the New Black" and "Nashville", but they are all adults, not children.
