Citation

Pieper LP. Sport Soc. 2015; 18(2): 186-201.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17430437.2013.854472

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

On 26 April 2007, US sportswriter Mike Penner told readers he was transsexual and that he would return to the paper as Christine Daniels. Journalists immediately analysed and assessed this column. Three months later, Daniels' first byline appeared as she assumed her former beats. Yet, after eight months in the spotlight, Daniels faded from view and, without explanation, Penner's name returned. Although the paper did not offer details on Penner's return, his re-emergence proved newsworthy. While the byline appeared consistently, Penner rarely appeared in public. On 27 November 2009, he committed suicide. By interrogating the fragmented coverage of Penner/Daniels in these three periods of his/her life - transition, (re/de)transition and suicide - this paper argues that the media selectively framed Penner/Daniels's gender identity and used gender pronouns purposefully to create specific meanings. Few described Penner/Daniels in entirety; as a result, the life was flattened into a one-dimensional category of gender advocacy. © 2013, © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Language: en