Grey’s Anatomy might not have had the best gay representation in its first fifteen seasons, but the series has been rectifying that.
TV Line reports that Michael Thomas Grant has been cast as James. According to the official character description from ABC,
“James joins Grey Sloan as [its] openly gay Episcopal chaplain. He holds a special place in his heart for his younger patients, and his warmth, training, and spirituality make him comfortable and confident in any situation.
“In his personal life, James finds himself at a crossroads where he is open to love and taking great leaps of faith.”
Schmitt’s Replacement Is Here
The news comes on the heels of Jake Borelli‘s impending exit.
Borelli was the first series regular on the show to play a gay male character. His character, Levi Schmitt, is the first gay male character to feature a significant arc, including a romantic relationship with Dr. Nico Kim (Alex Landi).
Dr. Schimtt first appeared in Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 Episode 1, “Break Down the House,” as a new intern.
Following the positive fan reception of the character, Borelli was promoted to series regular in Season 15.
He will leave the series in Season 21, and the show has been looking to replace its main gay character with a new one.
This is a welcome step in the long-running medical drama that has been thin on queer male representation.
Michael Thomas Grant is best known for playing Leif in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
While Levi was authentically cast, it is unclear if Grey’s Anatomy aims to continue the trend with James.
Grey’s Anatomy Gay Controversies
Borelli is not the first gay actor to be featured on Grey’s Anatomy.
When the series was in its early days, T.R. Knight‘s George O’Malley was also an intern.
Knight was not out then, but an altercation led to him being outed.
Reportedly, the altercation between Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey led Washington to refer to Knight using a gay slur even though Knight was not part of their thing.
The show was also known for featuring several queer female characters but never queer men in significant roles.
This might be in part due to the politics of acceptable representation that have long plagued broadcast television.
Given his religious background, a character like James is a tightrope for writers to walk.
Gay people are not exactly known for being religious due to the harm many have suffered at the hands of most religions, so this will be interesting to see unfold.
Side note: Watch Borelli’s uplifting gay rom-com film, The Thing About Harry, with Grey’s costar Niko Terho.
Catch Grey’s Anatomy on September 26 when Season 21 premiers on NBC.