Summary
Highlights
David Reimer's unfinished book and tragic suicide are discussed. His story, known internationally, involved him being a victim of a gender experiment where he was forced to live as a girl after a botched circumcision. His mother, Janet Reimer, aims to complete his story and share her pain as a tribute to her son.
In the mid-1960s, David Reimer's life changed after a circumcision mistake nearly burned off his penis. His mother learned of Dr. John Money, a sociologist from Johns Hopkins University, who proposed raising boys as girls, believing nurture was stronger than nature. Janet decided to follow Dr. Money's advice, hoping to give David a clear gender identity, unaware of the devastating consequences.
The family traveled to Baltimore, where David underwent surgery, began sex hormones, and was raised as Brenda. The truth was kept secret while Dr. Money gained international fame from the case. However, Janet realized early on that the experiment was failing, as David, even as a toddler, resisted being a girl. He was constantly teased and felt like an outcast, leading Janet to question Dr. Money, who revealed that most subjects of similar experiments had committed suicide.
At 14, David was scheduled for a sex-change operation but instead learned the truth about his birth and Dr. Money's intervention. This revelation brought him joy and contentment. He later married, adopted children, and decided to go public with his story in the late 1990s. His mission was to prevent similar tragedies, urging doctors to avoid reassignment surgeries until a child is old enough to decide for themselves. His story became a book, and he inspired many.
Despite finding purpose, David and his family could not escape the past. Two years prior to David's death, his twin brother, Brian, committed suicide, deeply affecting David. David struggled with shame and embarrassment from his past. A dream David had about reuniting with deceased family members foreshadowed his own death. Last week, David Reimer took his own life. His mother, Janet, now works to finish the book David started, continuing his mission to prevent similar tragedies.