Shameless executive producer Nancy Pimental discusses the Showtime show's new trans storyline, and the importance of casting trans actors to play trans characters in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Faking It actor Elliot Fletcher joined the show in its current seventh season as Trevor, a new love interest for Ian (Cameron Monaghan).

In episode four, Ian learns that Trevor is transgender and freaks out, drunkenly lobbing some inappropriate questions at him in a bar where they'd been on a date.

Pimental said the similarities between this scene and one from the show's first season, where Ian found himself at the receiving end of a homophobic line of questioning after he came out as gay, are intentional and meant to shine a light on serious issues within the LGBT community.

"A few years ago, Ian was being confronted with people who were homophobic or weren't accepting of his choices, and now it has become normalized. Suddenly he's on the other side of it now, confronted with this new [trans] situation that he has to learn to accept,” said Pimental.

"Like people had to digest and process his sexuality in the beginning of the series, now Ian has to educate himself. As progressive as he can be in many ways, he can be limited in his exposure to people outside of his world.”

Pimental also confirmed that Ian and Trevor's love will "blossom throughout the season."

"Introducing Trevor was the most exciting part of the episode," she said. "To cast an actor authentically who is trans to play trans, I think that everyone was nervous that the pool of actors to look at would be small. But it wasn't — there were a lot of really great choices."

She added: "For me, the naturalism and charm and fierceness that comes with who Elliot is and the commitment to the character made him the obvious choice."

Shameless airs Sundays at 9pm on Showtime.