Ryan Murphy’s new show makes history with five transgender lead actors

Director Ryan Murphy poses in the press room with the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series for his work on the "Glee" pilot episode during the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, in Los Angeles. AP Photo by Chris Pizzello.

Murphy and his Glee collaborator Brad Falchuk are behind a new TV show that’s in development at FX.

Pose is set in 1980s New York and portrays life in the city’s iconic queer ballroom culture, as most famously portrayed in the film Paris is Burning.

The show has the most transgender actors and actresses on the cast of any show in U.S. TV history.


MJ Rodriguez. Photo by Dennis Cahlo.

MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross, all of whom are transgender, lead the cast.

The cast also features  Ryan Jamaal Swain, Billy Porter and Dyllon Burnside.


Indya Moore. Photo by Elvin Tavarez.

For more on Ryan Murphy's projects:
'AHS: Freak Show' gets the red carpet treatment
Fox Network says Naya Rivera to remain on 'Glee'
The song is over, as 'Glee' ends its tuneful 6-season run

Trans activists Janet Mock and Our Lady J are set to write for the series.

The show’s co-creator Steven Canals said in a statement: “We are thrilled that Pose pushes the narrative forward by centering on the unique and under-told experiences of trans women and gay people of color."


Dominique Jackson. Photo provided.

“Ryan has assembled a strong team of storytellers and innovators to collaborate on telling this important narrative. As a Bronx-bred queer writer of color, I’m honored to aid in ushering this groundbreaking show into homes.”


Hailie Sahar. Photo by Timmy Blupe.

No air date has been announced for the pilot.


Angelica Ross. Photo provided.

The Gayly – October 26, 2017 @ 3:35 p.m. CST.