"Bruce Jenner went to the office in Beverly Hills, thinking the facial-feminization surgery would take about five hours. Caitlyn Jenner left the office in Beverly Hills after the procedure had taken roughly 10 hours."
Vanity Fair, June 25th 2015
Recently I've noticed the promotion surrounding the new Matrix film, 'Matrix Resurrections', directed by Lana Wachowski. The film is a direct sequel to 2003's 'Matrix Revolutions', a film I remember clearly watching at the cinema with some school friends shortly after graduation and so immediately reminds me how much time has passed between the two instalments. Within that time, many things have changed, and one of the most discussed - for better or worse - has been that of the Wachowski brothers.
For those unaware, the original Matrix film was released in 1999, and spawned two sequels. This trilogy of movies was directed by Larry and Andy Wachowskis, known before 2010 as The Wachowski Brothers, and received much critical praise and acclaim. In the intervening years, both Wachowskis have undergone procedures to transition from male to female, with Larry becoming Lana and Andy becoming Lilly. It is therefore only Lana who returns to direct this instalment on her own, whilst Lilly has focused on other projects, such as 2019's 'Work In Progress'.
In promoting the latest Matrix film several cinema chains, including Cineworld, used the term "award winning director" when referring to Lana's involvement with this movie. Throughout her career, Lana Wachowski has been a Producer, Writer, Director, and Actress, and several pieces of her work have won awards and achievements. Her transition was rumoured for several years, however was unconfirmed officially until 2008, with trade publications officially referring to her as Lana from 2010. If we take 2010 as a starting point, and apply this to the list of awards and accolades that Lana has won, only one award - that of Yoga Awards 'Worst Foreign Director' in 2015 - can actually apply.
Although the duo received nominations for projects such as 'Sense8' (2015) and 'Cloud Atlas' (2013), their award winning accolades were predominantly given in the late 90s and early 00s, well before any transition had taken place in either woman. Therefore, is to describe Lana Wachowski as an award winning director not a falsehood, if at the very least taking a liberty?
Consider the case of Caitlyn Jenner, who transitioned from Bruce Jenner in 2014/15, and is currently described online (amongst other things) as a retired Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete. Whilst it is indeed a statement of fact to say Bruce Jenner won a Gold Medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics, it is also a statement of fact to say this person no longer exists, with their transition from Bruce to Caitlyn meaning that to refer to Caitlyn as Bruce would be to "deadname" them. This term specifically refers to when someone would choose to call a person that has transitioned from one sex to another by their birth name, rather than by the new name they've chosen to now represent themselves.
I am accepting of many things, including those people who wish to transition gender, and welcome their decisions with as much mutual support as I can give; as I also believe ultimately that these decisions are personal and private to the individual transitioning and they are not to be unduly criticised and attacked or exploited and studied. But what I struggle to understand is why, if we are to truly accept a transition from one person to another, we equally acknowledge that any achievements awarded or given to that person before they transitioned are also equally a former achievement of their new identity.
In 2015, Caitlyn gave an exclusive interview to Vanity Fair, who documented her transition from Bruce. "Bruce Jenner", she said in this article, was “always telling lies.” Caitlyn Jenner, she said, “doesn’t have any lies.” Caitlyn went on to add that "Bruce Jenner caused hurt to four children who loved and idolized him before he gave his love and total attention to another family." By the same token, Caitlyn explained that where Bruce had failed, "Caitlyn Jenner has the possibility to make it right and close the fissure as much as she can."
If we accept, therefore, that Bruce's lies and deceit ceased once Caitlyn was 'born', or reborn perhaps, then should we not accept that the achievements and accolades of the past are not achievements awarded to their new identity? Particularly as members of the transgender community have been documented as very sensitive regarding the use of similar language in the past. From observation, it may be that the new identity only looks to seek acclaim for accolades from which they approve; Bruce Jenner was also once a cover star for 'Playgirl', something Caitlyn Jenner could obviously not have been. The Wachowski Brothers directed 'Speed Racer' in 2008, something unlikely to appear in their current biographies.
If I achieve an accolade or award, and then choose to change my gender after this fact, am I not still the same person who has achieved everything I did beforehand; even if those achievements might now be impossible to me? By the same token, if I do something bad, morally questionable or even illegal, would that not also follow me - for I am, intrinsically - the same person?
I write this article not as an attack or slander, but rather to pose a question, to understand why it is so easy to accept Lana Wachowski as having been involved in four Matrix motion pictures and the accolades that accompany this as opposed to just one? When, whilst acknowledging that Caitlyn as 'Woman of the Year', we must also acknowledge they are a retired Olympic Gold Medallist? And yet whilst also discounting any faults, more questionable choices or provocative behaviour?
The only way forward I feel is to have an honest and open discussion, to establish (beyond marketing material) where we draw these lines and better educate and inform future generations. And to maybe question whether we should automatically accept that when a person changes gender they can pick and choose what traits and facets of their past come with them.
Caitlyn Jenner on the Cover of Vanity Fair | Vanity Fair