Modern Family to Feature One of TV's First Openly Transgender Child Actors

Eight year-old Jackson Millarker will play a new friend of Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons)

By Lauren Piester Sep 26, 2016 10:31 PMTags

Lily's making a landmark new friend on Modern Family

Eight year-old transgender actor Jackson Millarker will guest star in this week's episode of Modern Family as Lily's (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) new friend, ABC confirms. 

According to the official episode description, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) think they overhear Lily insulting her new pal, and have to take a "quick look in the mirror" before they teach her a lesson about acceptance. 

"So proud to have directed this amazing kid," the episode's director, Ryan Case, tweeted. She also posted a photo of herself with Millarker on Instagram

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"This is Jackson Millarker," she wrote. "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 part of this show." 

NewNowNext was the first to report the news. 

Just last week, Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor used his Emmy acceptance speech for best actor in a comedy series to urge Hollywood to hire more transgender actors. 

"I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male to play a female transgender on television," he said. "We have work to do."

The Modern Family episode, titled "A Stereotypical Day," also focuses on Jay (Ed O'Neill) trying to make a good impression on the neighbors, while Manny (Rico Rodriguez) tries to make a good impression on a girl and the Dunphys deal with Alex (Ariel Winter) having mono. 

Modern Family airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ABC.