'I am a transsexual sportswriter...'

This is a political story only in the sense that throughout the country, a fairly new class of people is demanding its rights in legislatures and offices acoss America -- and succeeding in many cases, as they should. The group of people are transgenders, though it is interesting that some of them still refer to themselves by a label that is increasing going out of use within that community -- transsexuxals. Among them is Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner.

For most who have not known what he has been going through, through much of his life, Mike presents his first-person account today -- "Old Mike, new Christine."

"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.

"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." Read his story.