Mike Penner, sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, reportedly killed himself on Friday at his home. He was 52 years old. In his column, on April 26, 2007, "Old Mike, New Christine", Penner announced that he was transsexual. He reported that upon his return to work after a vacation, he would write under the name Christine Daniels.
In explaining his decision, he said, "A transgender friend provided the best and simplest explanation I have heard: We are born with this, we fight it as long as we can, and in the end it wins."
He went on to say, "I understand that I am not the only one in transition as I move from Mike to Christine. Everyone who knows me and my work will be transitioning as well."
Penner blogged for a while about his experience but then took a leave of absence. He returned to work, without explanation, as a male in 2008.
Different Options Available for Transitioning
Dr. Jon LaPook, the Huffington Post, June 18, 2009, "A Pro Bono Transgender Primer", was told by Dr. Spack, an endocrinologist at Harvard Medical School, that his patients tell him that "as far back as they can remember that they were in the wrong body - there's a heavy skew to under 6 years."
However, being in the wrong body does not necessarily mean there is a desire for gender reassignment surgery. According to Mara Keisling, Executive Director for the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), "Most transsexuals don't get surgery. This is about gender identity, not about genitals."
Transsexuals may choose all, some or none of the following in their gender identity journey:
- Hormone therapies (estrogens for Male to Female/testosterone for Female to Male)
- Facial reconstruction surgeries
- Breast augmentation or reduction
- Genital reconstructive surgery
- MTF (Male to Female) may reduce Adam's apple
- FTM (Female to Male) may have ovaries and uterus removed
The Psychological Impact of Gender Transitioning
Penner alluded to the heart-wrenching decision making process in his original coming out article. Penner said, "I am a transsexual sportswriter. It has taken 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-searching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words."
According to the American Psychological Association transitioning does not always bring the peace the person seeks. Dr. Marci Bowers, in Monitor on Psychology, July/August 2007, in the article 'The psychological challenges of gender reassignment surgery", said, "The transition provides great barriers to intimacy, and for a person's psychological well-being, intimacy is very important."
She said the discrimination transgender individuals face post-transition can cause significant psychological distress.
The NCTE reports that the stigma associated with being transgender requires transgender people to maintain constant vigilance against brutal violence. The NCTE also notes that at least one transgender person per month is murdered while many more are victims of assault.
Chaz Bono Living the Life He Always Wanted
Chaz Bono, in an interview with Good Morning America, Nov. 19, 2009, said "This was a very difficult decision to make, but it was the best decision I've ever made." Bono is eight months into his FTM transition; so far he reports he has taken hormones and had his breasts removed.
Bono's high profile transition brings a much needed voice to the transgender community. Especially as Penner said in his coming out column, "the world's knowledge about the transsexual community begins and ends with Jerry Springer's exploitation circus."
It seems that Bono's transition is the answer he was looking for and he is happy with his decision. But it appears that Penner's decision did not bring him the same happiness. Perhaps the signs were there all along as he said in his column, "Painfully and reluctantly, I began the coming-out process a few months ago."
Lorah Delaney - Lorah is a native of Vancouver, British Columbia. She has a degree in Physical Education from the University of British Columbia and a ...
