Lilly Wachowski: ‘Matrix’ Director, Makes First Public Appearance As A Woman


At the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills on Saturday, Matrix director Lily Wachowski made her first public appearance as a woman since announcing that she was transgender.

Wachowski was co-director for The Matrix series alongside her former-brother and received quite the reception while she graced the blue-hued carpet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel following actress Patricia Arquette. Lily’s own sister Lana also transitioned in 2008. Lana had yet to arrive at the time Lily walked in and the director spoke openly with The Wrap about how she was feeling in the moment.

“My flight instinct is off the charts right now but you have to fight against it.”

Wachowki also admitted that she and her sister Lana have never enjoyed being in the public eye, even when it was focused on their work in the industry, but the talent spoke eloquently and allowed cameras on her as a means of supporting their recent hit Netflix series Sense8.

As The Wrap notes, Lily was forced to come out about her transgender journey due to a launched investigation by the Daily Mail in regards to her “possible gender reassignment.” Wachowski chose to break the news in an open letter last month in response.

The Wrap reminds of the director’s words in the letter.

“Being transgender is not easy. We live in a majority-enforced gender binary world. This means when you’re transgender you have to face the hard reality of living the rest of your life in a world that is openly hostile to you. I am one of the lucky ones. Having the support of my family and the means to afford doctors and therapists has given me the chance to actually survive this process. Transgender people without support, means and privilege do not have this luxury. And many do not survive.”

The sibling directors have been known for their shy demeanor when it comes to the spotlight and promotion. The two have spoken about their aversion to the public life that accompanies talented and notable directors. Lily’s sister, therefore, chose a similar manner to share about her own transition back in 2008 and to tell her story. It wasn’t until 2012 that she chose to speak on the journey while accepting an award from the Human Rights Campaign. As the Wrap shares, Lana’s speech was praised internationally as being “bold and candid.”

As for the siblings’ current hit project, Sense8 has been renewed for a second season and they are currently shooting for the upcoming season around the world. The drama is expected to premiere in 2017 and stars Daryl Hannah and Naveen Andrews.

Also at the GLAAD Awards was Caitlyn Jenner, who has experienced a very public transgender transition. She has been offered a role on the hit show Transparent. Although Jenner has also been praised for her bravery internationally for coming out so publicly, the transgender community has not been overly welcoming of the reality star due to the very contradictory support Jenner has shown for Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

The Wrap noted how the reality star has fallen from iconic figure to outcast in the community since Jenner’s statements of support for such controversial politicians. The publication chatted with transgender activists on the topic last month. Sarah McBride spoke with the publication openly.

“I’m definitely seeing a growing frustration within the LGBT community with Caitlyn’s positions and actions. Her most recent comments about Ted Cruz were, for a lot of people, the last straw. [Jenner] has expressed on the show that she’s concerned about the national debt. But Ted Cruz isn’t the anti-deficit candidate, he’s the anti-LGBT candidate.”

[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for GLAAD]

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