Huge news came out that Lilly Wachowski (nee Andy), has joined her sister Lana, coming out as transgender and announcing her name and pronoun change.
Wachowski, one half of the Chicago sibling partnership known for the Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas and Jupiter Ascending, said she had already come out to family, friends and colleagues. She thanked Alicia Blasingame, her wife since 1991, for her love and support.
Posting a self-portrait photograph, she wrote: “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.”
She refers to the incidents that led up to her announcment. Lilly apparently was forced into coming out earlier than hoped due to a Daily Mail reporter who, acting on rumors, attempted to coerce her into an interview about her transition. Lilly saw these actions as “a threatened public outing against my will”. Faced with being outed, Wachowski decided to make the first move and out herself.
This is not the first time that the Daily Mail has been aggressive towards transgender people.
In 2013, Meadows, 32, a primary school teacher and transgender woman, took her own life. The Daily Mail had previously published a column by Richard Littlejohn headlined: “He’s not only in the wrong body … he’s in the wrong job”.
It was reported at the time that a note left by Meadows made no mention of press intrusion; citing “financial worries, bereavement and workplace stress”. However the coroner was insistent that the unwelcome media attention had contributed, telling the press “shame on all of you” while criticising the “sensational and salacious” coverage.
GLAAD has released a statement condemning the Daily Mail’s actions.
“GLAAD is thrilled that Lilly Wachowski is able to be her true and authentic self today, 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,” said Nick Adams, GLAAD’s Director of Programs for Transgender Media.
You can read the entire statment on the GLAAD website.
However, Lilly Wachowski remains positive about the experience. She was sure to mention how supportive her personal experience at home has been.
“Everyone is cool with it,” she wrote. “Yes, thanks to my fabulous sister they’ve done it before, but also because they’re fantastic people.”