Because Of Course They Are, 'Law & Order: SVU' Is Planning an Episode About Transgender Issues

(Image credit: Michael Paremelee/NBC)

Further underscoring its notorious responsiveness to real-life news, Law & Order: SVU will air an episode about a transgender teen fresh off the heels of Bruce Jenner's 20/20 interview.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Warren Leight, showrunner of the ceaseless police procedural, confirmed the storyline for season 17, which begins in the fall. It's not the first time the show has featured a transgender teen—an episode in 2009 featured a trans 13-year-old and a ring of thieves that stole hormones from pharmaceutical companies. But this one will doubtless garner more attention, now that Jenner has helped put transgender issues on the map.

While it's just one episode with just one trans character (who will, most likely, play the victim), at least his or her story will reflect what we're talking about today. Like Shonda Rhimes said, TV should be made "like the world looks."

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Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at Marie Claire. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.