Sports

Mike Penner Dead: Transsexual Sportwriter Christine Daniels Dies

by Jon Azpiri | November 28, 2009 at 11:22 am

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Mike Penner, the Los Angeles Times sportswriter who announced that he was transsexual and wrote under the name Christine Daniels, has died in an apparent suicide. Penner garnered national attention in 2007 when he announced in his column that he was was about to take a vacation and return as Christine Daniels.

The Mike Penner-Christine Daniels column, which poignantly described his inner struggles, became one of the most viewed stories in the history of the LA Times website.

I am a transsexual sportswriter. It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-wrenching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words. I realize many readers and colleagues and friends will be shocked to read them.

Mike Penner briefly blogged about life as a transitioning transsexual on the LA Times website, although all posts have since been removed. After some time off, Christine Daniels' byline began appearing in the paper. She continued to cover sporting events, including the Anaheim Ducks 2007 Stanley Cup run.

In 2008, Mike Penner's byline returned to the LA Times sports pages.

Mike Penner was 52.

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 11:33 on November 28th, 2009

Thanks for this, Jon.

Miguel345 (not verified)

at 13:35 on November 28th, 2009

The only reason this is news is because the guy is a transsexual. What a joke. He was probably hired because of his "sexual status". Way to pull the diversity card, L.A. Times. Just remember - 97% of people in the WORLD think that any kind of transsexual surgery should be illegal.

charles case (not verified)

at 14:31 on November 28th, 2009

I am not for Transsexuals. I think it takes a solid mind set of the other sex to make such a change. I also think you made that 97% up. China, I know, was not asked.

Pythiian1

at 13:39 on November 28th, 2009

The LA Times Sports page posted the announcement.

"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."

Penner garnered much support and some criticism when he announced he was a "transsexual sportswriter."