Veteran Times sportswriter Mike Penner dead
November 28, 2009 |  9:42 am

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/veteran-times-sportswriter-mike-penner-dead.html

Mike Penner, the veteran Los Angeles Times sportswriter who made international headlines in 2007 when he announced he was transsexual and began working under the byline "Christine Daniels," has died.

Colleagues said today that Penner was found dead at his Los Angeles home and that suicide was the suspected cause of death. He was 52.

"He was one of the most talented writers I've ever worked with," said Times Sports Editor Mike James, adding that Penner covered numerous beats including the National Football League and sports media during his more than two-decade-long career at the paper.

"He was a gentle man, a kind man," James said. "It's just a tragedy."

also

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14286/#185190

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RIP Christine!

RIP Christine

Another one bites the dust...

Mike Penner Dead: "LA Times" Sportswriter, AKA Christine Daniels, Committed Suicide At 52, Colleagues Say

JOHN ROGERS | 11/28/09 04:18 PM | AP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/28/mike-penner-dead-la-times_n_372751.html

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Times sports writer Mike Penner, who announced two years ago he was a transsexual and was changing his name to Christine Daniels, has died at age 52, the newspaper reported Saturday.

Penner was pronounced dead Friday at a hospital, said Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Brian Elias. He said coroner's officials hadn't yet performed an autopsy or issued an official cause of death.

The Times said in a story Saturday Penner was believed to have committed suicide. Penner had returned to using the name Mike Penner last year and was a Times columnist at the time of his death.

How very sad. I really feel like I got to know her after listening to the interview that NPR Radio did with her back in August of 2007.( The link to it is on the bottom of the LA Times article)  She sounded overall very happy and grounded, and dismayed about her divorce and family situation.

I did see that she started writing again using the Mike Penner pen name, but I'm unsure if she actually detransitioned.

My heart goes out to her loved ones. She and her inspiration will be greatly missed. This is a reminder again, how difficult transition can be, due to the treatment we receive by those who were once most close to us.

R.I.P.

very rough. RIP

Death of Transgender Sports Writer Mike Penner (a.k.a Christine Daniels)
The NLGJA Blog
by Michael R. Triplett
November 29, 2009 


http://nlgjareact.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/death-of-transgender-sports-writer-mike-penner-a-k-a-christine-daniels/


Today brought the sad news that Los Angeles Times sports columnist Mike Penner–who spoke at NLGJA's 2007 Convention as Christine Daniels–was found dead today of an apparent suicide.

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-mike-penner29-2009nov29,0,3898738.story


Mike Penner dies at 52; Los Angeles Times sportswriter

By Keith Thursby
November 29, 2009

Mike Penner, a longtime Los Angeles Times sportswriter who made headlines in 2007 when he announced that he was transsexual, has died. He was 52.

Penner was pronounced dead Friday evening at Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, a Los Angeles County coroner's official said.

The cause of death has not been determined but was believed to be suicide.

"Mike was a first-rate journalist, a valued member of our staff for 25 years, and we will miss him," Times Editor Russ Stanton said. "He respected our readers a great deal, enough to share with them his very personal journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

This is just so unbelievably sad.



Kristi

Mike Penner, sportswriter extraordinaire
November 29, 2009 |  6:04 pm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/afterword/2009/11/mike-penner-sportswriter-extraordinaire.html

Mike Penner, who died Friday at 52, left us too soon. He was not only a fine sportswriter, he was a friendly voice on the phone and a genuinely good person. Those of us who worked with him in The Times sports department knew every story he turned in had the potential to be the most entertaining read of the day. The photo that has accompanied most of the news reports of his death was the one slapped on his company ID badge. Would you want everyone to picture you that way? I prefer the photo above made by Gary Ambrose. That's how I remember Mike Penner.

Today many colleagues and readers are recalling their favorite Mike Penner stories. Former Times baseball writer Ross Newhan offers his thoughts at the Fabulous Forum blog.

Absolutely heart-breaking. Mike meant a lot to me, transitioning into Christine at just about the same time as me, and thus I felt we were somehow joined. Very hard, indeed.  Here's a reflection  on my blog:  http://jmcl.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/mike-and-christine/

if it's not bad form to ask...

those of you who knew her, do you know why she went back to writing as Mike? did she de-transition entierly or was that essentially a "pen name" the second time around?

And if she di de-transition, why?

The reason I ask is because one can't help but wonder if she felt she HAD to give up Christine and that doing so made her suicidal...

Again, I apologize if this is rude and/or unnecessarily nosey, and you may of course pm the answer if it's inappropriate for a public venue.