Patty Duke and Meredith Baxter will play a lesbian twosome on the Fox musical TV series, “Glee”. The big name co-stars will portray a committed lesbian couple in a storyline inspired by the Supreme Court marriage equality cases. “Glee” continues to support LGBT rights by creating a narrative around the issue of same-sex marriage.
As first reported by E! and The Hollywood Reporter, Oscar winner Duke and veteran TV star Baxter will play a devoted lesbian couple who first appear on “Glee” in the upcoming season four finale. The pair could return next season if the series gets renewed.
Blaine (Darren Criss) will first meet Duke’s character when he decides to propose marriage to on-again, off-again boyfriend Kurt (Chris Colfer) and visits a jewelry store to buy a ring. After hearing of Blaine’s love for Kurt, the jewelry shopkeeper (Duke) and her partner of 25 years (Baxter) offer to mentor the young couple. The storyline hints that Blaine could head to New York to join Kurt after graduation.
The same-sex marriage plot is the latest in a string of socially conscious storylines on “Glee”. Recently, an episode featured a controversial school shooting incident. Since its debut, “Glee” has staunchly backed the LGBT community, highlighting significant issues such as coming out, bullying and teen suicide.
Now, with Duke and Baxter, “Glee” is adding more star power to its substance. Duke has been a household name in Hollywood since her youth. She won an Academy Award for her role as Helen Keller in the 1962 movie, “The Miracle Worker”. Meanwhile, Baxter is best-known as all-American mom Elyse Keaton on the 1980s TV series, “Family Ties”. Notably, Baxter is gay in real life; she came out publicly as a lesbian in 2009.
The season four finale of “Glee” airs on Thursday, May 9 at 9pm on Fox.
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