The musical TV show "Glee" has been known for putting the spotlight on some social issues regarding the LGBT community, and it has done so once again. The latest episode in the Fox series would feature more than a hundred transgenders to highlight their stand on this controversial issue.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, around 200 transgenders were recruited for the episode aptly titled, "Transitioning." Media watchdog Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) conducted the search for the producers of the show.
The transgenders would be part of a choir to sing as back-up for the transgender student Wade "Unique" Adams, portrayed by Alex Newell.
IThe episode reintroduced the character played by Dot Marie Jones, who transitioned from a woman to a man. Jones played the character of Shannon Beiste, the female coach of the McKinley High football team, who later returned as Sheldon Beiste in the series.
Her change was openly welcomed and lauded by the transgender student Adams. Her performance, "I Know Where I've Been" from the musical "Hairspray" is her tribute to Beiste's change. The 200-member transgender choir would be featured as back-up vocals to the powerful scene.
Beiste's change from a woman to a man was first shown in the episode aired on Jan. 16.
The choir members came from different places in the United States such as Denver, Atlanta, and Birmingham.
Jones is openly gay in real life. She married long-time girlfriend Bridgett Casteen on December 2013 in a private ceremony at the home the couple shares, reported The Daily Mail. Jones proposed to Casteen in October while the two were in Disneyland to support Gay Days.
According to Dante Di Loreto, the director of the said "Glee" segment, he hoped that the episode would shine light to a very important issue in the country.
"This really is the face of America and you hope that when people see this episode they'll recognize, 'Hey, they look just like me,'" said Di Loreto to The Independent.
The director further stressed that the episode was not merely talking about acceptance of the people involved in the controversial issue.
"This isn't about tolerance, it's about coming home, and coming home to who you really are - and who you're meant to be and who you're meant to be with," he added.
Meanwhile, Inside Hollywood noted that viewers and critics gave out mixed reactions to the episode.
