Matrix director comes out as trans: Lana (Larry) Wachowski in Cloud Atlas commentary

by Craig Takeuchi on July 31st, 2012 at 10:08 PM

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You can't call them the Wachowski brothers anymore.

Yep, it's true: Hollywood now has its first major transgender director.

The codirector of The Matrix and the hotly anticipated sci-fi blockbuster Cloud Atlas is now Lana (formerly Larry) Wachowski.

A promotional commentary for Cloud Atlas, starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry and codirected by her brother Andy (and slated for release on October 26), is Wachowski's first public appearance after undergoing a 10-year transitioning process from male to female.

In the clip, she appears with pink dreadlocks and talks about the forthcoming film flanked by her brother and codirector Tom Tykwer.

If you haven't seen the trailer for the film, you're obviously not on Facebook. Here it is for the two of you out there who haven't seen it yet:

Trans issues and celebrities, from Chaz Bono to Vancouver's own Jenna Talackova, have been steadily increasing in visibility, media attention, and public awareness. In fact, Wachowski's coming out follows Against Me! punk-rock singer Tom Gabel's announcement in May that he would be transitioning from male to female.

In Vancouver, the third consecutive Trans and Genderqueer Pride March will take place on Friday (August 3) starting at 5 p.m. at Nelson Park and head to Emery Barnes Park.

You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/StraightLGBT.