Leslie, Mike Penner transitioned to living as Christine Daniels in April 2007. Eighteen months later (in October 2008), however, he retransitioned and lived out the rest of his days as Mike. Consequently, the best information we have is that, at the time of his death, he preferred to be referred to as male.

Mike never explained why he retransitioned, but it was most likely due to the pressures that friends, family and society in general place on those who transition, and not becuase of any decision that he was not, in fact, transgender. Sherriea, all news reports to date indicate that Mike did commit suicide, but not because he transitioned to living as Christine, but because he returned to living as Mike and was unable to deal with the resulting disappointment, anger and internal conflict.

I am 6 years older than Christine. Five years ago my psychologist had also diagnose me with this life long hormonal error. At age 58 I and maybe as many as 200,000 americans suffer with this life long duress with personal gender identity isssues. It was coined, Gender Dysphoria by several renound doctors. One famous doctor was Psychologist Harry Bengamine in the 1930's and 1940's.
After my transition five years ago I actulaly started to love my new image of me . It reliefed most of the stress and confusion I had experienced since at age 4 or 5, when my family had began telling me what I was suppose to be when I grew up. I hated the male role concept as it completly conflicted with my internal awareness of self; of who I knew, I was. This awareness of character and personality is even more true today. So, I love myself even more today than I have the last almost 50 years.

Today, I belong to at least 6 transgender organizations and 99 percent of the folks I met feel the same as I. We would not commit suicide after transition; but before transition years before many of us had thougt or even have tried commiting suicide. It is extremly depressing to be forced by family and society to a gender that feels totaly alien to you. So, why in your broadcast is it mention that she might have commited suicide? Are you suggesting that her transition was the cause of her death?

Sherriea

It was a moving piece yet let me a bit confused. Did she not live her last years as Christine Daniels? If so, would it not be more appropriate to commemorate her as such? It seems to be a disservice to her bravery for revealing herself like she did in the column and in life to not recognize her in death as well.