“Vera Lindner” / Penka Kouneva vs. transgender people

“Vera Lindner” is the stage name of Penka Kouneva, a Bulgarian-American composer and anti-transgender activist. Kouneva is a producer of the 2023 anti-trans film No Way Back, directed by Laura VanZee-Taylor. As producer, Kouneva is responsible for including convicted sex offender David Arthur Kendall as one of the ex-trans activists featured.

Prior to engaging in anti-trans activism, Kouneva worked on the trans-created Matrix franchise and has done orchestration for the Oscars, many video games, and many science fiction media projects.

Background

Penka Dinkova Kouneva (Пенка Динкова Кунев) was born February 25, 1967 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Kouneva came to the US in 1990 to attend Duke University, earning a doctorate in 1997. In 2000 Kouneva moved to Los Angeles and brought several family members over.

Kouneva married musician Daniel M. Schweiger on August 29, 2004. Schweiger is a writer for assignmentx.com, buzzine.com, filmmusicmag.com, and Venice Magazine. Schweiger writes liner notes and has a composer podcast called On the Score.

They have one child born in 2006. Kouneva has stated, “The defining experience of my early 40’s was the birth of my daughter,” which came at a creative crossroads.

Kouneva is sometimes credited as Penka Kouneva-Schweiger. Because their child is likely a beneficiary of the Schweiger & Kouneva Living Trust, it’s likely not possible for their child to share any opinions that contradict Kouneva’s.

Kouneva has released several albums and has been involved in composing and orchestrating many projects. Kouneva frequently collaborates on orchestration with composers who include Steve Jablonsky, Nathan Barr, Don Davis, and Hans Zimmer.

Selected video games

Kouneva has created work for Atari, Activision, Blizzard, EA, Microsoft, Sony, Steam, Ubisoft, among others.

Enter the Matrix (2002)
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (2005) & Legion (2016)
Call of Duty 3 (2006)
Transformers: The Game (2007) & Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Gears of War 2 & 3 (2008 & 2011)
The Sims 3 (2009)
Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (2010)
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010) & Heart of the Swarm (2013)
Dragon Age II (2011)
Kinect Disneyland Adventures (2011)
Diablo III (2012)
Overwatch 1 & 2 (2016 & 2022)

Selected film and television

Kouneva has created work for Disney, DreamWorks, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Regent, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros., among others.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Hostel (2005 & 2007)
Transformers (2007)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
The Oscars (2020)

Anti-transgender activism

Kourneva became an anti-trans activist at the height of the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. Kouneva’s teenage child, who had previously come out as lesbian, came out as trans and asked to be referred to by a new name and masculine pronouns.

Kourneva was radicalized after reading the anti-trans book Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier.

Kourneva found a lesbian therapist, who affirmed the teen, much to Kourneva’s dismay. Kourneva refused their child’s requests for a binder and dietary supplements. Kourneva learned that the therapist suggested that Kourneva’s child speak with the family’s health insurance company about coverage for trans healthcare. That is when Kourneva pulled their child from therapy and left Los Angeles to have their child to volunteer on a farm. Concerned about losing custody because of these anti-trans views, Kourneva came up with a strategy:

What I had to do is show love, support, and kindness without affirming the delusion. Without affirming the ideology, and drawing a very clear boundary that you’re loved, you’re safe, but we will do absolutely nothing medical until you are 18.

In order to engage in anti-trans activism without having it connected to a lucrative career, Kouneva created the alias “Vera Lindner.”

Kouneva also uses the fictitious business name “Panacol Productions dba PKS, Inc.” PKS stands for “Penka Kouneva Studios, Inc.,” a California corporation Kouneva created in 2018. Under the Panacol banner, Kouneva produced the 2023 anti-trans film No Way Back.

The press release for the film was put out by Panacol and lists Kouneva as contact:

Vera Lindner, Producer (802) 538-0424
press@affirmationgenerationmovie.com

References

Panacol Production dba PKS, Inc. (June 13, 2023). New Original Documentary “NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care” to Receive a World Premiere Event at AMC Theatres Throughout the US – June 21, 4:30 and 7:30 PM/ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-original-documentary-no-way-back-the-reality-of-gender-affirming-care-to-receive-a-world-premiere-event-at-amc-theatres-throughout-the-us–june-21-430-and-730-pm-301849037.html

Bolar, Kelsey (September 9, 2022). Identity Crisis: California Mom Says Gender Ideology Drove Autistic Daughter Into Mental Breakdown. IWF https://www.iwf.org/identity-crisis-vera/

Jones, Brad (September 8, 2022). Mom of Ex-trans Daughter Seeks to Expose ‘Social Contagion’ in Documentary. Epoch Times https://www.theepochtimes.com/mom-of-ex-trans-daughter-seeks-to-expose-social-contagion-in-documentary_4719361.html

IWF (September 9, 2022). Identity Crisis: California Mom Says Gender Ideology Drove Autistic Daughter Into Mental Breakdown. Independent Women’s Forum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lVlIQFVkAA

Joseph, Tara (July 9, 2020). Cherishing relationships, opening doors, a fascination with Space, Astronauts and NASA and striving for success with composer Penka Kouneva. For Love and Music https://www.jamartistsgroup.com/cherishing-relationships-opening-doors-a-fascination-with-space-astronauts-and-nasa-and-striving-for-success-with-composer-penka-kouneva/

Palma, Alex (February 21, 2018). INTERVIEW: Penka Kouneva And The Birth Of Id. Cultured Vultures https://culturedvultures.com/interview-penka-kouneva-birth-id/

Eckerling, Debra L (August 3, 2018). Penka Kouneva Scores With Video Games. Jewish Journal https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/236837/penka-kouneva-scores-video-games/

gamermd83 (December 12, 2015). MD Interviews: Penka Kouneva (Composer & Orchestrator). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcfgai2PhdU

Savas, Kaya (October 5, 2012). Composer Interview: Penka Kouneva. Film.Music.Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0UOWiHLG_8

Staff report (October 3, 2004). Marriages: Penka Kouneva and Daniel Schweiger. Milford Daily News https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/2004/10/03/marriages-penka-kouneva-daniel-schweiger/41182998007/