‘Modern Family’ Casts Openly Transgender Child Actor

Modern Family casts Jackson Millarker, TV’s first openly transgender child actor.

The producers of Modern Family are making a significant move in terms of casting diversity on their hit award winning TV show. The show will feature eight-year-old Jackson Millarker, TV’s first openly transgender child actor.

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. ????

A photo posted by Ryan Case (@film114) on Sep 26, 2016 at 11:00am PDT

According to Variety, Millarker will play Tom, a transgender boy who is friends with Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). He will appear in the upcoming episode “A Stereotypical Day,” where he is invited for a play-date by Lily, and her parents Cameron “Cam” (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson).

More and more transgender actors are gaining opportunities in Hollywood. Shows like Orange is the New Black, Nashville and Transparent are breaking stereotypes and casting transgender actors.

You can catch the Modern Family episode “A Stereotypical Day” on Wednesday, September 28 on ABC.

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