Christine Daniels, LA Times Sports Writer, dead, suicide suspected

November 29, 2009 in Our World by Rebecca | 2 comments

This might be the saddest headline I’ve read in a long time.  Christine Daniels has died.  In 2007 she, then known as Mike Penner, declared, under gender therapist care, that he was in fact a transexual woman, and began her RLE as Christine Daniels.  Later, she actually left her RLE and returned back to the LA Times as Mike Penner and continued her writing career with the LA Times as Mike.

I don’t want to believe Mike/Christine is dead.  And, I especially don’t want to believe it’s from her taking her own life.  That cuts too close to home for our community.  Mona Rae Mason, of the National Institute of Health funded Transgender Project, has noted about transgender women from the study:

The rate of lifetime major depression in this study of male to female transgender persons was 54.3%. That is almost three times higher than the corresponding estimate for the general population.

Suicide ideation for this same group was at 53.3%, again three times higher than the general population.

Actual suicide plans and attempts, 35.0% in the younger group, and 27.9% in the older, are seven and 10 times higher than the NCS estimates. SEVEN to TEN times!

You can read more about Christine Daniel’s death at:

  1. The LA Times
  2. The Huffington Post
  3. National Public Radio
  1. Wendy Andresen’s avatar

    Wendy Andresen on December 5, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    Hi Becki,

    I followed this story right from the start. When I heard she went back to living as a man I felt saddened already. I think it’s this ambivalence that provokes trangendered people to take their own lives.

    The pressures from society, our families, the media, etc. can exert such a profound force on a transgendered person. I think if we can provide more freindship and love to others experiencing this major adjustment maybe we could prevent the suicides. Just my thoughts… Wendy Andresen

  2. Rebecca’s avatar

    Rebecca on December 7, 2009 at 7:38 am

    Hi Wendy!

    Thanks for much for leaving your comment. You know, your comment is the first one I’ve ever heard of this type on this topic. I think your perspective and thought is terrific. In many ways what you’ve noted really points to the importance of peer support; each one of us taking the responsibility to look out for each other. We aren’t just fictional characters; we are real people.

    Great idea Wendy!

    Becki