Filmmaker Lilly Wachowski, who with her sister Lana Wachowski has written, directed, and produced films and TV ranging from The Matrix to Jupiter Ascending to Sense8, came out as transgender Tuesday, under threat of being outed against her will by British tabloid the Daily Mail. According to a statement that Lilly—formerly known as Andy Wachowski—released to Chicago’s Windy City Times, a reporter from the tabloid arrived unannounced at her house Monday night to tell her the paper planned to out her in the near future and coerce her to grant them an exclusive:
Then last night while getting ready to go out for dinner my doorbell rang. Standing on my front porch was a man I did not recognize.
“This might be a little awkward,” he said in an English accent.
…
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! And that I really didn’t want to have someone from the National Enquirer following me around, did I? BTW—the Daily Mail is so definitely not a tabloid.
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.
GLAAD released a statement in response, strongly 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.
In her own statement, Lilly Wachowski, whose sister Lana is also transgender, referred to the Daily Mail’s involvement in the death of Lucy Meadows. Meadows committed suicide after the tabloid published a column by Richard Littlejohn criticizing her for returning to teaching school after transitioning. The tabloid was singled out for special opprobrium by the coroner at Meadows’ inquest.
