Is The Los Angeles Times To Blame for Letting Sportswriter Mike Penner Come Out As Trans?
http://www.queerty.com/is-the-los-angeles-times-to-blame-for-letting-sportswriter-mike-penner-come-out-as-trans-20091218/Initially, we thought the Los Angeles Times' handling of sportswriter Mike Penner — who began transitioning, hormones and all, to Christine Daniels in 2007 before abruptly ending treatment — wasn't just appropriate, it was magical. In the very heteronormative sports section of a national newspaper, here we had editors actually encouraging Penner to tell her transgender story to readers, risks be damned. And not only did the Times support Penner, both publicly and privately, it managed to keep him on staff as round after round of layoffs shrunk the newsroom. But did the Times' involvement with Penner's very public coming out story actually contribute to Penner's downfall? That downfall, of course, included Penner taking his own life in November.
Transitioning is a difficult process even if you have a robust support system. But what about when you start transitioning under the heat of public spotlight? While the newspaper may have had the best intentions with Penner, one of his confidants insists the Times' involvement — both encouraging Penner to tell readers about his transitioning and publishing his reports — was anything but helpful. Reports Jacob Bernstein:
