Image: Andy Wachowski (R), the co-director of the new film “The Matrix Reloaded” talks with the film’s producer Joel Silver (L) at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles, California in this May 7, 2003 file photo. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/Files
By Piya Sinha-Roy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “The Matrix” filmmaker Lilly Wachowski, formerly known as Andy, came out as a transgender woman on Tuesday in a candid post entitled “Sex change shocker – Wachowski brothers now sisters!!!,” four years after her sister Lana Wachowski revealed she was a transgender woman.
Lilly Wachowski, 48, said in a statement in Chicago’s Windy City Times that she decided to make her gender reassignment public after a journalist from Britain’s Daily Mail attempted to coerce her to do an interview about her transition.
“I knew at some point I would have to come out publicly. You know, when you’re living as an out transgender person it’s … kind of difficult to hide. I just wanted — needed some time to get my head right, to feel comfortable. But apparently I don’t get to decide this,” Lilly Wachowski wrote.
Her sister Lana, 50, formerly known as Larry, came out publicly as a transgender woman in 2012.
In her statement, Lilly Wachowski touched on the struggles faced by the transgender community, and said that while progress has been made, “we continue to be demonized and vilified in the media where attack ads portray us as potential predators to keep us from even using the goddamn bathroom.”
“So yeah, I’m transgender. And yeah, I’ve transitioned,” she said, adding that she is out to her wife, family and friends.
The Wachowskis, who are notoriously private about their lives and rarely give interviews, have carved a reputation with “The Matrix” franchise, “V for Vendetta” and, most recently, Netflix’s sci-fi series “Sense8.”
Lilly Wachowski’s transition comes amid a growing spotlight on the transgender community.
Reality TV star and Olympic gold medallist Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, has so far been the most high-profile personality to come out as a transgender woman last year, and has been an advocate for LGBT rights.
Amazon’s Golden Globe-winning series “Transparent,” which follows the gender transition of a family patriarch, has also helped shed light on the community and just last month, Mya Taylor became the first transgender actress to win an Independent Spirit Award for her role in the film “Tangerine.”
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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