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Veteran LA Times sports writer Mike Penner today explained why he will be away for the next couple of weeks. Here's how it starts:
During my 23 years with The Times' sports department, I have held a wide variety of roles and titles. Tennis writer. Angels beat reporter. Olympics writer. Essayist. Sports media critic. NFL columnist. Recent keeper of the Morning Briefing flame.Later he recalls how when he told his boss the news, the boss looked out over the newsroom and said, "Well, no one can ever say we don't have diversity on this staff." His column today is called Old Mike, new Christine.Today I leave for a few weeks' vacation, and when I return, I will come back in yet another incarnation.
As Christine.
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.
That's OK. 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. That will take time. And that's all right. To borrow a piece of well-worn sports parlance, we will take it one day at a time.
Photo by Yogi
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Well, that took a lot of cojones! Seriously, is this what journalism has become--the reporter becoming the story? TMI for my taste.
Good for you, Christine. You are braver than most.
And this is a story. It's the story of an advancing America where people can better their lives without fearing the judgment of others.
But the better story will be when this is no longer actually news, and no longer worthy of publication.
When this type of bravery is commonplace and doesn't need to be shared with others and explained.
That day is still to come. But it is coming.
Again, congrats Christine. And may you enjoy the happy life you deserve.
C'mon hollywood - It was a brave thing to do. Upon first reading, (someone told me, I don't read the sports section) I wasn't sure that it was for real - but he/she handled a difficult topic very professionally. As a public persona/writer, the issue had to be addressed, and Christine did it well.
I completely agree it was very courageous, but put it in a feature section or the Sunday magazine, if you must. The only connection to sports is that the writer is a sports writer. I suppose it was therapeutic, but I'm not sure why this had to be shared in print. When reporters become the news (in any way), I quickly lose interest in the news. Isn't Christine Jorgensen old news?
Perfectly put, Mike- I look forward to that day, too.
btw - the story was put in the sports section to explain why Penner was gone and Daniels was starting. What better place to judge a person's worth than on paper - no preconceived notions or bias. What if Penner instead told us he was purple, or black, or bald...who would care, right? Just write, and write well.