Popnography
CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Photo: Danielle St. Laurent
On Saturday, Los Angeles Times sports writer Mike Penner, 52, was found dead in his home, the victim of an apparent suicide. Penner, a popular Times writer since 1983, gained national attention, and scored a place as an honoree in our 2007 Out 100, when he came out as transgendered, began transitioning, and started to use the name Christine Daniels both personally and professionally in 2007. The move sent shock waves through the predominantly male-dominated-industry but undaunted, Daniels continued to cover sports for The Times and also launched a new blog for the paper entitled Women in Progress, which took a lighthearted look at trans issues.
In 2008 Daniels detransitioned back to Penner and some suspect that his suicide maybe have been a result of ongoing stress and anxiety surrounding his gender identity. Regardless, Penner was a brilliant writer and his courageous coming out brought trans issues into the homes of millions of people who otherwise might never have come face to page with a trans person.
Here is what we wrote about Daniels in the 2007 Out 100 issue (the above photo is from the same issue):
On April 26, 23-year veteran sportswriter Mike Penner wrote his final piece as a Los Angeles Times columnist, telling the world that he'd be going away, then returning to work -- as Christine. Though the shy Daniels admits to fearing the reaction to her transition, the response -- even from the frequently homophobic sports world -- has been overwhelmingly positive and her "career-long writer's block" has vanished.
We'll miss you, Mike.
Previously > Chatter: Meredith Baxter
Latest Stories
Kayla Malec claps back at James Charles with three-part video series
May 16 2025 5:12 PM
Cynthia Nixon defends 'messy' queer Miranda on 'AJLT'
May 16 2025 4:05 PM
Pope Leo XIV denies marriage equality
May 16 2025 3:20 PM
Craft your LGBTQ+ wedding proposal, according to your horoscope
May 16 2025 1:44 PM
Celebrate Black Pride 2025 at these 11 fabulous events
May 16 2025 12:31 PM
Trump's authoritarian banner at USDA signals democracy's demise
May 16 2025 8:24 AM
Knock knock. Who's there? Gay jokes to the rescue!
May 16 2025 7:30 AM
'Deaf President Now!'s Nyle DiMarco: Deaf history 'shaped America'
May 16 2025 5:30 AM
'Drag Race All Stars 10': Bracket 1 queens who advanced to semi-finals
May 16 2025 1:35 AM
Kristin Chenoweth gushes over 'trailblazer' Jinkx Monsoon
May 15 2025 11:14 PM
Did Theo James make the hottest perfume ad ever? A breakdown
May 15 2025 5:19 PM
Lorde reveals that Chappell Roan asked if she was nonbinary
May 15 2025 1:07 PM
Explore the 'Queer Lens' with new photography book & Getty exhibition
May 15 2025 11:20 AM
Watch Paul Reubens reveal he did drag before Pee-wee Herman (exclusive)
May 15 2025 11:00 AM