Matrix Director Comes Out As Transgender Woman

[Ognir]

The film-maker makes the announcement in a newspaper article entitled "Sex change shocker -- Wachowski brothers now sisters!!!"

Andy (L) and Lana Wachowski together in 2013

The co-director of The Matrix, Lilly Wachowski, formerly known as Andy, has come out as transgender - four years after her sister Lana Wachowski also transitioned to a woman.

Lilly Wachowski wrote a piece in Chicago's Windy City Times entitled "Sex change shocker - Wachowski brothers now sisters!!!"

The 48-year-old said she decided to make her gender reassignment public after a journalist attempted to coerce her into doing an interview about her transition.

"I knew at some point I would have to come out publicly," Lilly Wachowski wrote.

"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."

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 demonised 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 starring Keanu Reeves, 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, 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.

http://news.sky.com/story/1656381/matrix-director-comes-out-as-transgender-woman?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter