MEDICAL FRAUD and the criminal assault of boys

Gender test subject takes his life

By KATIE CHALMERS, Sun Media

WINNIPEG -- A Winnipeg man who was born a boy but raised as a girl in a famous nurture-vs.-nature experiment is dead. David Reimer, 38, who shared his story about his botched circumcision in the pages of a book and on the Oprah TV show, took his own life last Tuesday. His mother, Janet Reimer, believes her son would still be alive if not for the devastating gender study that led to much emotional hardship.

"He managed to have so much courage," Janet said yesterday. "I think he felt he had no options. It just kept building up and building up."

After the circumcision accident as a toddler, David became the subject of an experiment dubbed the John/Joan case in the '60s and '70s. Janet said she still harbours anger toward a Baltimore doctor who convinced her and her husband, Ron, to give female hormones to their son and raise him as a daughter, Brenda.

Kids were cruel to Brenda growing up in Winnipeg.

"They wouldn't let him use the boys washroom or the girls," Janet recalled. "He had to go in the back alley."

This gender transformation was widely reported as a success and proof that children are not by nature feminine or masculine but are socialized to become girls or boys. David's identical twin brother, Brian, offered researchers a matched control subject.

When David, as a teen, discovered the truth about his past, he rebelled and resumed his male identity, eventually marrying and becoming a stepfather to three children.

LIFE STORY

In 2000, author John Colapinto wrote "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl", providing David an opportunity to tell the real story. It was difficult but David wanted to save other children from a similar fate, his mother said.

David recently slumped into a depression after losing his job and separating from his wife. He was also still grieving the death of his twin brother two years ago, making daily visits to his grave to place fresh flowers and pull weeds to keep it tidy.

Just last week David told his parents that things would get better soon, but they never imagined he was planning to commit suicide.

Janet will remember her son as "the most generous, loving soul that ever lived."

"He liked music. He liked jokes. He was a very funny guy," said Janet, who spent Mother's Day grieving his loss.



Mon, May 10, 2004 Gender test subject takes his life By KATIE CHALMERS, Sun Media WINNIPEG -- A Winnipeg man who was born a boy but raised as a girl in a famous nurture-vs.-nature experiment is dead. David Reimer, 38, who shared his story about his botched circumcision in the pages of a book and on the Oprah TV show, took his own life last Tuesday. His mother, Janet Reimer, believes her son would still be alive if not for the devastating gender study that led to much emotional hardship. "He managed to have so much courage," Janet said yesterday. "I think he felt he had no options. It just kept building up and building up." After the circumcision accident as a toddler, David became the subject of an experiment dubbed the John/Joan case in the '60s and '70s. Janet said she still harbours anger toward a Baltimore doctor who convinced her and her husband, Ron, to give female hormones to their son and raise him as a daughter, Brenda. Kids were cruel to Brenda growing up in Winnipeg. "They wouldn't let him use the boys washroom or the girls," Janet recalled. "He had to go in the back alley." This gender transformation was widely reported as a success and proof that children are not by nature feminine or masculine but are socialized to become girls or boys. David's identical twin brother, Brian, offered researchers a matched control subject. When David, as a teen, discovered the truth about his past, he rebelled and resumed his male identity, eventually marrying and becoming a stepfather to three children. LIFE STORY In 2000, author John Colapinto wrote "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl", providing David an opportunity to tell the real story. It was difficult but David wanted to save other children from a similar fate, his mother said. David recently slumped into a depression after losing his job and separating from his wife. He was also still grieving the death of his twin brother two years ago, making daily visits to his grave to place fresh flowers and pull weeds to keep it tidy. Just last week David told his parents that things would get better soon, but they never imagined he was planning to commit suicide. Janet will remember her son as "the most generous, loving soul that ever lived." "He liked music. He liked jokes. He was a very funny guy," said Janet, who spent Mother's Day grieving his loss.