This Friday’s new Glee episode, “Transitioning,” will see the return of New Directions trans alumna Unique (Alex Newell) who sings “I Know Where I’ve Been” from Hairspray with a 200-person trans choir in a show of support for Coach Beiste. GLAAD helped Glee recruit the 200 trans extras from across the country to come to Los Angeles and participate in the episode. Many of the transgender people said they had never been in a room with that many other trans people before. The energy and the enthusiam was fantastic - even though it was a very long day! Check out the clip below and some personal pictures from GLAAD’s Director of Communications & Special Projects Nick Adams who was on set for filming.
"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 Glee executive producer Dante DiLoreto. “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."
Coach Beiste announced his transition earlier this season, and has been a recurring character on the series since season two. Newell joined the series in season three after finishing as a runner-up on the first season of Oxygen’s The Glee Project. While Newell was originally only given a two-episode offer, Unique became a beloved character and saw an expanded regular role in season’s four and five as a member of the McKinley High New Directions. Glee covered important real life issues with Unique’s story, including one episode that highlighted the challenges faced by transgender students when they cannot safely access school facilities.
Catch all new episodes of Glee Fridays at 9 p.m. on FOX. The series finale will air March 20.
