Matrix director Lilly Wachowski makes first trans appearance at GLAAD awards

Image source, Getty Images

The Matrix director Lilly Wachowski has made her first public appearance since coming out as transgender.

She was at the GLAAD Media Awards in California where her Netflix show Sense8 won outstanding drama series.

The 48-year-old said she was nervous before the event, which recognises coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

"My flight instinct is off the charts right now but you have to fight against it," .

Sense8 features several LGBT characters.

It won over Grey's Anatomy, How To Get Away With Murder and Empire.

Image source, AP

Lilly, who used to be known as Andy, announced she'd transitioned last month, claiming she was "threatened" with being outed by The Daily Mail.

"Yeah, I'm trans. And yeah, I've transitioned. I just wanted - needed some time to get my head right... but apparently I don't get to decide this," she said.

The paper denied trying to coerce Lilly into coming out.

It said it made clear it wanted to report the story if and when she was happy for them to do it.

Image source, Getty Images

In her coming out statement, Lilly also said "being transgender is not easy" but that she was "one of the lucky ones".

She said having family support and money for doctors and therapists gave her a chance to "actually survive this process".

Image source, AFP/Getty images

Image caption, Lilly, when she was known as Andy, with sister Lana

It came six years after Lilly's sister Lana Wachowski came out as transgender.

The pair directed The Matrix series together and were involved with films including V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas and Jupiter Ascending.

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