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The Matrix co-director comes out as transgender

The Wachowski siblings in 2012. Photo: Getty

The Wachowski siblings in 2012. Photo: Getty

Lilly Wachowski, one half of the sibling director duo behind The Matrix films, has come out as a transgender woman four years after her sister Lana did the same.

Lilly, formerly Andy, broke the news in a letter published in Chicago’s Windy City Times, a LGBT newspaper.

Her sister Lana, formerly Larry, came out as a transgender woman in 2012.

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In the letter, headlined, ‘SEX CHANGE SHOCKER—WACHOWSKI BROTHERS NOW SISTERS!!!’, Lilly said she felt pressured to come out due to unwanted media attention.

“There’s the headline I’ve been waiting for this past year,” Lilly wrote.

“Up until now with dread and/or eye rolling exasperation. 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.

The Wachowski siblings in 2012. Photo: Getty

The Wachowski siblings in 2012. Photo: Getty

“In response to this threatened public outing against my will, I had a prepared a statement that was one part p***, one part vinegar and 12 parts gasoline.”

Lilly said she decided not to release the statement when attention died down, but was forced to speak out when a reporter from British outlet the Daily Mail turned up on her doorstep.

“Last night while getting ready to go out for dinner my doorbell rang. Standing on my front porch was a man I did not recognise,” Lilly recalled.

“He proceeded to explain he was a journalist from the Daily Mail, which was the largest news service in the UK and was most definitely not a tabloid. And that I really had to sit down with him tomorrow or the next day or next week so that I could have my picture taken and tell my story which was so inspirational!

“So yeah, I’m transgender. And yeah, I’ve transitioned. I’m out to my friends and family. Most people at work know too. Everyone is cool with it.”

The Daily Mail has categorically denied Lilly’s accusations in a statement posted to their website.

“As Ms Wachowski says herself, we were not the first media group which approached her and we made absolutely clear at several points in the conversation that we were only interested in doing the story with her co-operation and had no intention of publishing anything without her consent,” the statement read.

“Our reporter was extremely sympathetic and courteous at all times.

“We are baffled as to why Ms Wachowski has reacted as she has but we wish her well with her journey.”

The Wachowski siblings wrote and directed the highly successful Matrix movies which collectively grossed more than US$1 billion globally.

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