Trans journalist, Jane Fae has been busy following up on the story of Dr. V., the trans woman whose suicide was made the focal point of a purported expose of her life by Caleb Hannan in Grantland. I know I have ranted rather a lot about this before, but Jane has discovered some new information which appears to cast yet more doubt on the self-justifying “apology” produced by Grantland.

This information comes in an article by Megan Finnerty published on the Arizona Central website. Finnerty has been talking to Gerri Jordan, a long-time friend and ex-lover of Dr. V., and she has a very different take on the story. In particular Ms. Jordan says that while Dr. V., in common with many trans people, had suicidal tendencies, she is convinced that Hannan’s investigations are what pushed her friend over the edge.

A key part of Bill Simmons’ defense of his journalist is as follows:

There was no hounding. There was no badgering. It just didn’t happen that way.

In contrast Finnerty’s article has this:

By May, Vanderbilt and Jordan believed Hannan was going to publish a story exposing her unverifiable MIT, Stealth Bomber and Wharton School resume, as well as details about her transition.

In early June, Vanderbilt was so nervous about being outed that she called at least one close friend — McCord, the CBS announcer — so he wouldn’t be surprised.

“I don’t know how many other people she had that conversation with,” Jordan said.

In that same month, Jordan said, Vanderbilt resigned as CEO of Yar Golf because of Hannan’s inquiries.

“She believed the story would die if she was no longer involved with the company,” Jordan said.

So, no hounding, eh, Mr. Simmons. Would that have been a lie?

Jane has much more detail, and is worth reading because she is magnificently angry about the whole thing.

Hannan is reportedly refusing to talk to journalists because he is busy working on a lengthy self-justification, for which he will doubtless be very well paid. I think we can guess what it will contain:

• It will portray him as a hero for exposing a dangerous confidence trickster;
• It will explain how Dr.V.’s suicide was a desperate attempt by a deranged lunatic to paint herself as a victim and get back at those seeking to expose her (except he’ll misgender her throughout);
• He will quote at length from people like J. Michael Bailey as support for his assertion that trans people are all mentally unstable and inveterate liars; and
• He will go on and on and on about how terrible the whole thing has been for him, and how he will never recover from the awful things that Dr. V. has done to him.

It would be nice to think that Hannan and Simmons will get to spend a long time in prison to reflect upon what they have done, but their complicity in Dr. V.’s death is unprovable and in any case no jury would convict. Instead I expect them to sweep up a bunch of awards for what will be described as their brilliant, incisive and socially relevant journalism.