Transsexual L.A. Times sportswriter found dead

[Beagle]

LOS ANGELES, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A Los Angeles Times sportswriter who made headlines by announcing he was becoming a woman, then returned to work as a man, has been found dead in a suspected suicide, the paper reported on Saturday.

Mike Penner, a 25-year veteran of the Times sports staff, was found dead at his Los Angeles home at age 52. The paper said suicide was the suspected cause of death.

"He was one of the most talented writers I've ever worked with," Times Sports Editor Mike James told the paper in a blog on its website. "He was a gentle man, a kind man. It's just a tragedy."

Penner stunned colleagues and readers in April 2007 with a column announcing that he was a transsexual and would become a woman.

"How do you go about sharing your most important truth, one you spent a lifetime trying to keep deeply buried, to a world that has grown familiar and comfortable with your facade?" Penner wrote.

His column became one of the most-read articles on the paper's website and was widely reprinted on the Internet and discussed on sports talk-radio programs.

Under a new byline, Christine Daniels, the writer chronicled the transformation on a blog titled "Woman in Progress." But by October 2008 Penner had quietly gone back to work as a man. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Xavier Briand) ((Reuters email: dan.whitcomb@thomsonreuters.com; 1-213-380 2014))

[tiramisu]

Becoming a transsexual is just the wrongest way a man can do.

[bte]

Becoming a transsexual is just the wrongest way a man can do.

The wrongest way? What?

[bat1]

Becoming a transsexual is just the wrongest way a man can do.

what's wrong being who you want to be?

maybe I'm taking what you said wrong;

if going from man to women is wrong your on the wrong forum!

It's very sad any transsexual has to die for coming out

Life is so short, just love give all the love you can to everyone