On Tuesday, the filmmaker formerly known as Andy Wachowski announced to the world via a statement to the Windy City News that she is transgender and will be using the first name Lily from now on.
She is the second member of the sibling directing duo — formerly known as the Wachowski brothers — to come out as transgender. Lana Wachowski made her public debut as trans in 2012. The directors, best known for the blockbuster “Matrix” trilogy, now arguably represent the most famous trans figures behind the camera in Hollywood.
Second Wachowski sibling comes out as transgender https://t.co/vVn5ToEZZ6 pic.twitter.com/BabuDJAMi7
— Variety (@Variety) March 9, 2016
The 48-year-old Lilly told the Windy City News that the decision to go public now was an attempt to get in front of media outlets telling her story before she could. “‘SEX CHANGE SHOCKER—WACHOWSKI BROTHERS NOW SISTERS!!!’ There’s the headline I’ve been waiting for this past year. Up until now with dread and/or eye rolling exasperation,” Lilly Wachowski wrote. “The ‘news’ has almost come out a couple of times. Each was preceded by an ominous email from my agent—reporters have been asking for statements regarding the ‘Andy Wachowski gender transition’ story they were about to publish. In response to this threatened public outing against my will, I had a prepared a statement that was one part piss, one part vinegar and 12 parts gasoline.”
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But when publications didn’t “out” her after all, she held back. Then on Monday night, according to Wachowski, she was confronted by a reporter claiming to be with the UK gossip publication The Daily Mail. Wachowski alleges that the writer pleaded with her to give him an interview about her gender status. Wachowski recalled that the publication had “demonized” Lucy Meadows, a British elementary school teacher who happened to be trans, in 2013. Three months after The Daily Mail published a column about Meadows titled, “He’s not only trapped in the wrong body … he’s in the wrong job,” she committed suicide.
A spokesman for The Daily Mail has denied in an official statement that they “in any way tried to coerce Lily Wachowski into revealing her gender transition” and insisted that their reporter was “extremely sympathetic and courteous at all times.”
Dear Lily Wachowski: Sorry your trans-ness warranted tabloid threats, but welcome to the sisterhood! https://t.co/UODZvO9aID #girlslikeus









