Rest in peace, Mike Penner. The L.A. Times reported the sports writer died, apparently a suicide, this week, at age 52. Penner came out as trans at the Times in 2007, and began writing under the byline “Christine Daniels.” But this life was too hard, and she returned to being Mike Penner in 2008.
I met Christine in Atlanta in 2007, and she was dignified, gentle, sweet, and gracious. I was so impressed by her. She was a really good writer, too. When I heard the news today, I thought of the closing lines of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web: “It is seldom that someone comes along who is a true friend and a great writer. Charlotte was both.”
I’ll miss her.
3 Comments
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I tought of you at once when I read the news just a liitle while ago.I believe I have a picture with you and her.Im making a collection of photos for you anywayand hope to get them to you by years end.
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.This is a sad end to a nice week.>Gina< -
I feel crushed and angry. , I have fits of crying. I never met her but I was one of the hordes who reached out and said “If you ever need to talk “. The injustice of this kind of end is painful as no one should be so lost that this becomes the only option.. There must have been another way.
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I used to have a signature line that spoke of my love for Krispy Kreme doughnuts. When I wrote Christine to commend her for being so brave, she wrote back to express our common passion for “hot, fresh now!” KK doughnuts. Having that tiny connection was enough to feel a little bit like she was a far away friend. Being a sports fan, I read and enjoyed her columns. I am saddened and shall also miss her.
