Degrassi Premiere to Include Trans Teen

Jordan Todosey DEGRASSI X390 (HANDOUT) | ADVOCATE.COM

Now entering its 10th season, the hit teen TV show Degrassi is once again charting new territory — this time by featuring a transgender character.

As Degrassi prepares to celebrate a decade on TeenNick, Nickelodeon’s programming block geared toward a teenage audience, the cast is excited to welcome a new character to the story. The show will feature Adam, a biological female who presents himself as a boy.

Adam will be portrayed by Jordan Todosey, a 15-year-old actress from Life With Derek. For the role, she underwent a significant makeover, including adopting a more masculine gait. Todosey describes Adam as a character who “was born physically as a girl but between the ears, he feels like he's a guy."

The show’s director and producer, Stefan Brogren, who also plays the role of the school principal, explained the importance of the character, telling CTV News, "I can truly say that when we decided to do this episode we realized this is brand new territory for us. We've never even tried to breach this subject before. Of course, we've dealt with gay and lesbian stories, but you can't approach this the same way."

In addition to queer themes, Degrassi also turned heads in the past when the show featured a pregnant teenager and her confrontations at an abortion clinic. While only Canadian viewers saw the full outcome of that plotline, Adam’s story is set to debut in full. “This will be an ongoing character; this will be someone who'll be around his whole high school experience,” says Brogren. As a plot twist, it has been revealed that Adam will also have a homophobic stepbrother, Drew, played by Luke Bilyk.

Brogren expressed the care with which the show wishes to frame the story line. He explained, “The writers did some amazing research; [the network has] been in touch with gay, lesbian, transgender organizations to make sure they like the script. We want to make sure that we're not hurting the subject matter."

He added, “We want to make sure that this character is loved and develops a fan base."

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Reader Comments

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Name: Kristopher
Date posted: 11/18/2010 12:25:42 AM
Hometown: New York

Comment:
So, I'm trying to figure this out, how is being FTM bad. This is regarding more of the older comments. I'm FTM and I have a bunch of support about this, but what I don't get is why are a lot of the community being really fussy about it. This is a show, yes, but it deals with modern teenage problems that are played by teenagers. I mean, come on, I can under stand a little discrimination, but this has gotten a little to far on here. More when it's about a TV show!
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Name: Zane T
Date posted: 8/14/2010 3:25:31 PM
Hometown: Tempe, AZ

Comment:
Adam's storyline on Degrassi is so incredibly heartbreaking. He just wants to be himself and his clueless mom sure isn't helping matters. At least he has Eli and Claire to lean on for support.
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Name: Leda
Date posted: 8/7/2010 1:17:04 AM
Hometown: ksnkl

Comment:
They chose a girl because in the show they are going to have her actually play as a girl for a few shows. Someone will find out that Adam is a girl..i think its clare and fitz? i dont remember but then i think that she wont dress as a guy for some shows and eli starts liking her or whatever. but thats why...
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Name: Leda
Date posted: 8/7/2010 1:13:09 AM
Hometown: Sacramento

Comment:
dj
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Name: Brandon
Date posted: 7/30/2010 1:58:52 AM
Hometown: Riverside

Comment:
As a 19 year old trans guy myself, I am very excited they have put a transgendered character on Degrassi. The one thing I am worried about is that I hope it is as realistic as possible. I was hopeing they would get a trans guy actor to do the part aswell, because it would be more...real. It's not a huge worry, because I've watched every Degrassi season so far, and they've done a good job at making realistic situations. To all of you ignorant people out there, being transgendered is not a choice, I would never choose this. Gender and biological sex are two different things. Gender is how you feel, whether that be male or female, and biological sex is the parts you were given when you were born. Somehow our wires got mixed up in the process, and it is in no way our fault. Transitioning was the best decision I ever made in my life and I am happy because of it. I hope this character educates all of the people who may not understand what being Transgendered even means. Thanks Degrassi.
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Name: diane
Date posted: 7/29/2010 5:40:29 PM
Hometown: hilliard, oh

Comment:
Why not get a transgendered person to play the part. No need to change the hair, wear a wig, change your walk..It all comes naturally - male or female..
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Name: Catherine
Date posted: 7/20/2010 12:26:06 PM
Hometown: Montreal

Comment:
Harrold and Jean, clearly you do not have any idea what it is to be transsexual. You see a grown man in a wig. How about a seeing a teen going through puberty who is absolutely horrified with all the body changes that feel opposite and unnatural to who they feel inside? Perhaps that guy in a wig is a cross-dresser (something entirely different) or perhaps she just hasn't figured out how to pass yet. Transgenders for the most part conform to what is expected of them until they can take it no longer. The road to transition is a long one that will include hormone therapy and in many cases sex re-assignment surgery. It takes many years to complete itself. Modern medicine is unveiling more and more evidence that this is a birth defect --- not a psychological problem and the most successful outcomes for the persons affected involve transitioning---not conforming. Obviously there is still much headway to be made in educating people which is why exposure such as this is needed!
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Name: Catherine
Date posted: 7/19/2010 10:56:52 PM
Hometown: Montreal

Comment:
Oh and Bob, how can you make a credible argument towards a biased person by showing bias yourself? If you want to be taken seriously, then leave out the racial biases.
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Name: Catherine
Date posted: 7/19/2010 10:51:26 PM
Hometown: Montreal

Comment:
"Alternate lifestyle" is NOT what comes to mind when I think of a transgendered child. What does come to mind is a deepened sadness for a child born into the wrong physical body and who must struggle to be true to themselves against difficult odds. Statistics show that 30% of trans kids will attempt suicide before the age of 20, far more will injure themselves. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed and need not be sweeped under the carpet only to appease those that cannot handle TRUTH. I am really anxious to see where this story goes because high school kids can be some of the meanest people in the world (and unfortunately some never grow up). Degrassi has always been wonderful at telling things like it is, teaching our children the lesson's of real life and showing us that we are all human and deserving of love and compassion. Parents who think they will better equip their children for real life by ignoring the difficult issues are making a big mistake.
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Name: Emily
Date posted: 7/19/2010 12:37:31 PM
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada

Comment:
Hey, Earth To You: You displayed your own ignorance, too. Hermaphrodite is an archaic and offensive term for someone born with an intersex condition, not a 'girl with a penis' as you described. A 'girl with a penis' is just that - a trans woman who either has not yet had bottom surgery, or has no plans/desire to have it done. To (some) others: And where did 'girl with a penis' come from anyway!?!? Clearly a whole lot of you didn't read the article, because the character in question is a trans man. If you're going to insist on using offensive terms, at least get it right. In this case, it would be 'boy with a vagina!' Seriously... when am I going to learn NOT to read the f@#*ing comments whenever an article on transpeople come up...?

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