The Wachowski sisters, directors of The Matrix, and gay indie movie-maker Xavier Dolan have have become Oscar voters.

The inclusion of Dolan, the Wachowski sisters and 681 others is a direct response to claims that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting committee severely lacks diversity. Until now the membership of the group has been overwhelmingly male and white.

Of the 683 new members 46% are female and 41% are people of colour, reports Gay Star News.

Members of the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences have the ability to vote for Oscar nominees each year.

The Wachowski sisters, both of whom have come out as trans in recent years, are arguably the most high-profile of the ‘diversity’ inclusions. Lana Wachowski transitioned in 2008, with the news becoming widespread knowlegde by 2010.

Wachowski was the first major Hollywood director to come out as trans. In March of this year, Lilly Wachowski also came out as trans ahead of an attempted ‘outing’ by the Daily Mail.

RTÉ reports that Irish filmmakers including Lenny Abrahamson and John Crowley and author Emma Donoghue have also today become Oscar voters.