The Attic Youth Center will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a gleeful guest. Alex Newell, 21, is best known for his role as transgender character Unique/Wade on Fox’s hit television show “Glee.” On Nov. 20, Newell will appear as the headliner for The Attic’s 20th Anniversary Gala. Newell, who will receive the OK2BU Role Model award at the gala, was born and raised in Lynn, Mass. He first appeared on “The Glee Project” as a contestant eager to win a spot on the show’s official cast. Newell was a runner-up in the contest and landed himself a role as one of the first transgender teenage characters on American television. Newell, who was a member of his high school’s choir, improv club and costume club, realized he wanted to pursue a career in performing arts when he was a child. “I remember when my mom’s cousin asked me when I was 3 years old what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said, ‘A superstar,’” he told PGN. “I guess it was just something in me. I always wanted to be a superstar.” Newell said heading from “The Glee Project” to “Glee” was an intimidating but remarkable experience. “It was a hard transition because I had just come off a reality show where I was popular and known on the show, and then coming into this already-established television show where everyone is their own star, it was like coming into someone’s household and trying to fit in,” he said. “But they were all welcoming and excited to meet us.” Newell debuted as Wade, a student at another local high school, in the third season of the show, and his initial two-episode run focused on the character’s struggle to present as a female, Unique, to her fellow glee-club members. Newell returned as a recurring cast member for the fourth season, when Unique transfers to McKinley High, and he was brought back as a member of the main cast for the current season. Unique has no issues with staying true to herself, Newell said, which is what makes her so relevant to today’s youth. “What makes her so relatable is her heart. She says what she means and means what she says. No matter what, she is always true to herself,” he said. “One of my favorite quotes that I said last season was for the Thanksgiving episode where Unique said she would not allow her parents to change her. It is a testament that you have to be true to yourself, you have to hold on to that no matter what.” Newell said he has heard negative comments about his character but added that such remarks are another way to educate people on intolerance. “People are going to be negative if they don’t understand something,” he said. “You can’t expect people to understand it. There will be people that do not identify with Unique, but it is about educating people.” Newell, who said his own coming-out experience was smooth, encouraged LGBT people of all ages to stay true to their own characters. “I think it is one of those things that not just youth need to understand, but everybody. When you are older, it is harder to come out and be yourself,” he said. “You’ve tried but it has always been trial and error. If you are not yourself, when it comes time to come out, it will be too hard because it is all you’ve known — to be someone you are not.” Unique’s role continues to proclaim that message. Newell said it has been daunting, but rewarding, to take on such a groundbreaking character. “It is a challenge because you have to keep your place and bring something new to the table all the time because you have people looking up to the work you love doing,” he said. “You are spreading that message on a larger scale and someone in high school, college and even elementary school can be educated on those issues.” Newell’s most recent challenge was filming the episode, “The Quarterback,” which focused on the death of “Glee” actor Cory Montieth, who succumbed to a drug overdose this past summer. Newell said Montieth was a pleasure to work with. “He was amazing. He was an absolute gem. My very first big scene was with him on the last season and he was a great person to work with,” he said. “There was just something about him. He had a presence where you wanted to work with him and have a conversation with him. It was an honor to work with him.” Newell said the emotions shown during the episode were all genuine, noting there was barely any need for acting. He said seeing his fellow cast members break down during shooting was one of the hardest things he has had to witness. “I loved Cory as much as the next person. People who worked with him over the years were devastated and extremely upset,” he said. “The people that loved him were more upset out of anyone and seeing them cry and dealing with that was hard. I hate seeing people I love deal with this pain.” After the Monteith tribute episode, “Glee” returned Nov. 7, and although he was not at liberty to give all the details, Newell said fans can expect many good things for Unique’s storyline. As for Newell’s own future plans, he just last week was signed to a record deal and plans to continue acting and ultimately perform on Broadway. Newell said he is excited and honored to headline The Attic’s 20th Anniversary Gala and said the center is a great resource for LGBT and ally youth. “It is a place of comfort when you’re lost and don’t know where else to turn to. Places like The Attic are good for people who think they have nothing else left in the world. They teach you otherwise.” For more information on The Attic Youth Center, visit www.atticyouthcenter.org.