I just had to post this comment somewhere, since I was so blown away by this woman and her speech, so much so, that I even had a vivid lucid dream that I actually met her and her brother after watching this video below -- felt like I now strangely actually know her in real life.
Please note: This video (Lana Wachowski receives the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Visibility Award) was already posted in a diary three weeks ago by kossack rserven, but I felt I had my own distinct unique impression of this, which I felt was a respectful contribution, and being relatively new to this site (my 2nd diary), and with rserven's encouragement, I am posting this, which I originally posted as a comment on her last diary. I do hope it is appropriate to re-post this video here today, in homage of yesterday's Transgender Day of Remembrance. See:
I watched her speech just last night and having never seen Lana Wachowski prior to this video, this was the first impression I had of her. Not surprising, apparently, since she and her brother have been rather reclusive and guarded of their privacy (or rather, of their anonymity, as she explains in her speech.) Like the public at large, I only knew of her and her brother's works: The Matrix Trilogy, V For Vendetta, and I just saw Cloud Atlas and LOVED IT!!!, and so, I can only envision her as she is today in this video, an adorable powerful wise sweet endearing pretty woman!
After watching this video, I googled her name to read her wikipedia page and learn a little more of her life story, and in doing so, I saw pictures of her prior to her transformation, and I was struck with the distinct feeling that this here today is her true form, where she shines so very joyously brightly, naturally, and at ease with herself -- I imagine, more at ease than she has ever been before her transformation. And I felt the sadness she must have felt over the years, not being able to let her true beauty shine in the light of day, as a female spirit. Her mannerisms, her gestures, her words, and the way she courts the audience, these so reminded me of several female lovers from my past, and in Lana, they did not feel like learned or adopted affectations, not at all. They felt like her true self naturally sharing of her life journey. Conversely, it was the images of her as a man that seemed "not right" or "not natural," so true, honest and genuine was her female gesture. But then, one might ask, what is male or female nature anyway, for even I, as a man, have a sacred feminine in myself, as the Asian Yin/Yang symbol teaches us. I wished she had come of age in a society where was able to openly adopt that which she was drawn to in private when she was young, and that there was no "binary" gender that demanded she be pegged in a hole that simply did not fit her. Her tale of her near suicide struck deep and painful. How many live with this same unnecessary shame and fear? Too many!
She shines in this speech, and her coming out of her "lifestyle of anonymity" is a noble courageous gesture that we should all honor.
Lana Wachowski receives the HRC Visibility Award
Please do watch the entire speech, for it is all so endearingly inspirational, moving and touching, but this choice excerpt was so sweet and endearing of her brother's love, that I had to point it out.
= TRANSCRIPT EXCERPT (@28m05s) =
'Invisibility is indivisible from visibility'
For the transgender this is not simply a philosophical conundrum, it could be the difference between life and death.
A few short weeks ago after my coming out, three of us, Tom, Andy, and I, were being interviewed, one of the reporters ventured away from the subject of the film, towards my gender.
Imagine that, a reporter!
[Lana smirking.]
[Audience laughter.]
My brother quickly stepped in:
"Look, just so we're clear," he says, "If somebody asks something or says something about my sister that I don't like. Understand, I will break a bottle over their head!"
[Audience roaring cheers!]
[Lana Joyous Loving Laugh!]
Few words express love clearer than these.
...
I would second her brother's words in a New York minute.