Grey's Anatomy may be an old show, but it's still on the cutting edge for telling trans stories on primetime network TV.
ABC's medical drama is bringing on Transparent actress Candis Cayne for a multi-episode arc as a patient who comes to Grey Sloan for a "groundbreaking" vaginoplasty surgery, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The storyline is based on a true story about a trans woman named Hayley Anthony who helped Jess Ting, the director of surgery at the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai, design a new vaginoplasty procedure.
In 2007, Cayne became the first trans actress to play a recurring trans character in primetime on ABC's Dirty Sexy Money. She's also appeared on The Magicians and Nip/Tuck.
Grey's Anatomy has been working to improve trans representation on TV in Season 14. This season has a new character, intern Dr. Casey Parker (Alex Blue Davis), who debuted in October and recently came out as a transgender man. The show has received praise for how Casey's gender identity is not treated as the most important part of his character and how many of his storylines have nothing to do with being trans.
Last year, Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox made history by becoming the first transgender actress in a series regular role on a primetime network drama. The show was canceled after just one season.
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.
Candis Cayne, The Magicians" data-image-credit="Syfy, NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images" data-image-alt-text="Candis Cayne, The Magicians" data-image-credit-url="" data-image-target-url="" data-image-title="Candis Cayne, The Magicians" data-image-filename="180131-candis-cayne.jpg" data-image-date-created="2018/01/31" data-image-crop="" data-image-crop-gravity="" data-image-aspect-ratio="" data-image-height="1380" data-image-width="2070" data-image-do-not-crop="" data-image-do-not-resize="" data-image-watermark="" data-lightbox="">Other Links From TVGuide.com Grey's AnatomyCandis Cayne