Modern Family is filled to the brim with adorable child actors, but one guesting in this week’s installment is making headlines because of a revolutionary bit of casting. The episode “A Stereotypical Day” will star 8-year-old Jackson Millarker, who is openly transgender. Director Ryan Case posted a photo with Millarker on Instagram, captioning it:
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.
As Case mentioned, Millarker plays Tom, a friend of Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron’s (Eric Stonestreet) daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). The requisite conflict apparently ensues when Mitchell and Cameron “overhear Lily insulting her new friend,” according to a description from ABC.