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R.I.P.
Filed under: R.I.P. > Sad Sad
Esteemed Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner passed away on Friday evening at the young age of 52.
He made headlines in 2007 for coming out as a transsexual and began to write under the name Christine Daniels for a brief period, yet the transition was difficult for him.
"Mike was a first-rate journalist, a valued member of our staff for 25 years, and we will miss him," said Times Editor Russ Stanton. "He respected our readers a great deal, enough to share with them his very personal journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
While returning to write under his original name, Penner covered a multitude of events over his career including the Olympics, the Angels, World Cup soccer, tennis, sports media and a variety of others.
"Mike was one of the most talented writers I've ever worked with, capable of reporting on any number of topics with great wit and style," said sports editor Mike James. "This is a tragic ending and a difficult time for all of us who knew him."
Not only did Mike begin a blog detailing his transition, but wrote an essay on his personal experience.
"It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-searching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words," Penner wrote. "I gave it as good a fight as I possibly could. I went more than 40 hard rounds with it. Eventually, though, you realize you are only fighting yourself and your happiness and your mental health — a no-win situation any way you look at it."
Penner's cause of death has not been determined, but it is believed to be a suicide.
Tragic.
So the hundreds of hours of therapy were a bust huh
This makes it so obvious that these people are not truly happy!
Re: Kellergirl – No, it makes it obvious that this person was desperately unhappy. And she may not have been unhappy with her choice to transition, but people's acceptance of her change.
*SUICIDE* he knows that he's in pain …n goin to die…so this utterly tragic suicidal death is just an easy task to do…n we all know it..
I read this on a few sites over the weekend. That away to stay on top of things. transsexuals are such a gross bunch of people. Wish they would all go away.
Thanks for posting the picture, as I had been looking for a photo of him since I saw the story last week.
Sad and truly tragic.
'these people' do not choose their suffering!
so sad… may she rest in peace
This is so sad. However, I am going to have to go elsewhere to understand the timeline…she was writing under her transitioned name, and then went back to writing under her original name? Did she transition back, too? Cause they are referring to her as a him posthumously…I am confused. If she didn't transition back, it is very sad that she is not being recognized as "she" in commentary about her life.
If men were allowed to be gay the way women are welcomed as lesbians perhaps this tragedy could've been avoided. Seems like now that there's a black president all of the previous hatred towards african-americans has been turned on gay men. Stop hating!
Re: blue74 – Exactly my thoughts. Generally once you come out you like to be referred to as a she but everyone is calling him he. Maybe the transition was too much and he want back to behind closed doors?
Re: Kellergirl –
Nice broad brush strokes.
Re: tom951 –
I wish you would go away you idiotic twat.
Re: Kellergirl – You Are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT…..this just tells you, you cant change who you are and think things are going to be different….being a transexual isnt the FUCKING answer……CHAZ BONO IS NEXT…..
wouldnt it be more politically correct to call her a HER. you are part of the lgbt community perez, but i always find you to be slanderous and disrespectful to the transgender community.
why are you always at least one day behind on stories?
Always blaming other people. I wish the gay community would quit blaming everyone for everything. He committed suicide so it's everyone else's fault. If a straight guy commits suicide is it the gay communities fault? All I'm saying is it's time to cowboy up and own up to your problems. This guy/girl was clearly confused and killed himself because of his inner demons. It's nobody's fault but his!
suicide is NEVER the answer - it is a permanent solution to temporary pain - things can ALWAYS get better, even if it seems like there's no way!! God bless him and his family!!
Re: tom951 – what a truly horrific thing to say.
Am I the only one who thinks suicide isn't "Tragic" ?
Seek help if things get really rough, people. Seek help. People do care,
if they KNOW.
So sad. How painful. RIP.
another happy ending for the gay lifestyle
Who cares about his sexual predicament.. many people are unhappy in the world and may have everything all figured out! Sometimes no matter what a solution can't be found for some people! R.I.P.
so 2 days ago reported!
So sad, RIP.
It is a sad but true fact that homosexuals, bisexuals and transexuals have higher rate of suicide than heterosexuals in the US (I don't know international statistics but they're likely similar). Greater acceptance by the general public would certainly help these individuals lead happier lives. I feel especially sad for trans people because of how hard it must be living in the body of the wrong gender and because of how very difficult the path for them to find happiness must be.
Re: tom951 – What a horrible thing to say.
CHAZ..take note.
What a screwed up dude.
Re: scottyk_9 –
How dumb are you to blame the suicide on him? Just by reading his blog, we know how he's been having a hard time for FORTY years. He did fight and he hanged on for FORTY years, but at the end he lost to all of those people who rejected him..which leaves the blame on the people rejected him or his closest people who didn't try to help. Wow, you clearly have no sympathy to others. I'm glad I don't know you.
Re: Lunatic.me – He chose to take his own life. Suicide is an easy way out. If you're life is difficult to live, try getting help. I don't see lots of black, or asian or latino people committing suicide and then the public blaming everyone else and feeling really sorry for that person. I would have felt more sorry for him if he made his situation really public and put out a desperate attempt to change the publics opinion on this subject. Instead he just ended his life, maybe I am insensitive but I don't feel this is tragic. There are lots of people in this world who have it tough, should all of them kill themselves too?
That's such a sin
Poor guy must have been extremely depressed.
Ewwwwwww. Transsexuals and transvestites are the most disgusting bottom feeders on earth. (Pun intended) Second only to revolting gays of ourse
Re: Kellergirl – Hear hear
Never heard of this person - and frankly doubt Perez would be mentioning the 'tragic' suicide of a journalist if there wasn't the transgender angle here. The whole pushing of the gay agenda is getting pretty boring… I come here for celebrity gossip.
maybe she wouldn't have been so suicidal if everyone around her wouldn't have kept insisting on calling her by male pronouns - including after death - how dare you,Perez, a supposed defender of trans rights, perpetuate this hateful behavior, she was a woman after her transition & she was a woman when she died - she at least deserves that much respect
R.I.P.
its because he knew he was a freak.
you are what youre born as,not a man trapped in a womans body or vice versa.you do not get to decide what yr gender is,you take what you are and learn to live with it…that being said ,how are you gonna turn this into a homosexual rights drama now?
Transgender issues are so complex I don't even think it is possible for many to fully understand them. I assumed suicide when someone was quoted as saying tragic in their comments.
Let the haters continue/begin their phobic hatred. I read a study where the majority of those who verbally or physically bashed transgendered persons were likely to profess a curiosity about wearing women's clothing for desire/fun.
you're gross… shame on you
Re: tom951 – you're gross… shame on you
my comment refers to tom951
tragic… R.I.P.
I wonder if he had kids, or a wife? He must have been through a lot. I hope his family finds some comfort that he's finally free.
Didn't look half bad as a girl, I woulda let him blow me.
Each time I hear "suicide", I always think of "arranged murder". I wonder what is the percentage of suices that are "arranged murders". I never trust a suicide.
She was beautiful anyway. Successful transition. PIP (Party In Peace).
"a difficult time for all of us who knew HIM." and the reason for suicide was?
Will this ever end?