‘Glee’ Spoiler: Star Dot-Marie Jones Turns Transgender Tale Of Coach Beiste Into LGBT TV History [Video]


When Glee star Dot-Marie Jones first discovered that her character Coach Beiste would reveal plans for a transgender transition, she was concerned about how the topic would be handled. But once she read the script, Dot-Marie felt only pride, she revealed to People.

“I just didn’t want to let down the girls who are straight and tomboys that my character represented the last four seasons,” explained Jones.

Reflecting on Coach Beiste’s transition from female to male, Dot-Marie explained that the final season of Glee, which marks its sixth run on Fox TV, will unveil the coach’s changes. And she’s thrilled by how the script conveys that transition.

“I got the script and I was, like, ‘Oh my God. This is amazing.'”

Spoiler Alert: Dot-Marie’s character will share his new look on the February 13 episode after having made the initial revelation of the plans in an earlier episode.

Jones noted that social media responded with gratitude after that first revelation.

“I had thousands of Tweets from people. I was crying. Members of the transgender community were saying, ‘I never thought I’d see myself on TV. You have no idea what this means to me. Now, maybe people will get it.'”

http://youtu.be/4Aq-lQKj45I

As the Inquisitr reported, that initial episode showed Dot-Marie’s Glee character Coach Beiste revealing the decision to make the transition.

In that episode, called “Jagged Little Tapestry,” Coach Beiste also reveals that he will be on a leave of absence for his medical transition. With the revelation made to her assistant coach Sam, played by Chord Overstreet, and notoriously nasty principal Sue Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch, the groundwork was laid for the Coach’s dramatic return before the finale.

That episode marks the first occurrence of a long-term character on a series to emerge as transgender, complete with the transition, and Jones expressed how she felt about what she views as an honor in an interview with the Advocate.

“My biggest thing is just being respectful. The last thing I want to do is disrespect anybody in what I’m portraying, and to do it respectfully and with class, and with dignity and pride, and I could not have been prouder than I was that day [that we filmed those scenes],” she declared.

In her personal life, the Glee star is married to Bridgett Casteen, her long-time girlfriend. The two had a holiday wedding last December.

[Photo By Charley Gallay/Getty Images]

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