Lilly Wachowski, the second half of the Wachowski directing duo, has come out as transgender four years after Lana Wachowski went public to reveal herself as a woman.
Lilly Wachowski, formerly known as Andy Wachowski, made the announcement in a statement issued to an LGBT publication titled, "SEX CHANGE SHOCKER-WACHOWSKI BROTHERS NOW SISTERS!!!"
Lana Wachowski made her first public appearance as a woman in July 2012. She and her sibling are best known for directing the "Matrix" trilogy. Their other movie credits include "Cloud Atlas," "Jupiter Ascending" and "Speed Racer."
In her statement, Lilly Wachowski revealed she was pressured into coming out as a transgender woman and was nearly outed by the media on several occasions.
"The 'news' has almost come out a couple of times," Lilly Wachowski said. "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," she continued.
The 48-year-old stated that a journalist working for a British newspaper showed up at her doorstep on Monday and coerced her into giving an exclusive on her transition.
"He proceeded to explain he was a journalist from the Daily Mail," she wrote. "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! And that I really didn't want to have someone from the National Enquirer following me around, did I?"
Lilly Wachowski then cited an incident from 2013, when a Daily Mail columnist's outing of a transgender schoolteacher named Lucy Meadows forced her to commit suicide.
"My sister Lana and I have largely avoided the press. I find talking about my art frustratingly tedious and talking about myself a wholly mortifying experience. 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."
"So yeah," she added. "I'm transgender."
GLAAD (formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) welcomed Lilly Wachowski's announcement and criticized the media for pressuring her into doing so.
"GLAAD is thrilled that Lilly Wachowski is able to be her true and authentic self today," said Nick Adams, GLAAD director of programs for transgender media. "However, she should not have been forced to disclose her transgender identity before she was ready to do so. Journalists must learn that it is unacceptable to out a transgender person, in the same way it is unacceptable to out a person who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual."
