August 22, 1965 - David "Brenda" Reimer - a podcast by Stephen Hammond

David Reimer, raised as “Brenda,” is born. Twins Bruce and Brian were born to Ron and Janet Reimer on August 22, 1965 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Six months later, when a failed circumcision severely damaged Bruce’s penis, a psychologist persuaded his parents to raise him as a girl. So, after much angst, they allowed doctors to physically alter their infant, and renamed him Brenda. They did so on the advice of renowned psychologist and sex researcher Dr. John Money of John Hopkins Hospital in the U.S. Money believed “gender identity” could be shaped at an early age, and for many years, he cited Brenda as a shining example. Meanwhile, Brenda Reimer – though in the dark as to her gender history – grew up feeling awkward, hated dresses and insisted on standing while urinating. When she was told the truth at age 14, she took the name David and regarded herself as a boy henceforth. In his 30s, Reimer shared his story with author John Colapinto, who in 2000 published the book, As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised a Girl. Reimer appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, explaining how this experiment had impacted him. Then, in trying to forge a normal life, he underwent surgery to reverse some of the damage. He married a woman with children of her own, and his life seemed to be turning around. However, when he lost his job and separated from his wife, he became suicidal. On May 4, 2004, at the age of 38, Reimer killed himself, leaving his grieving mother to tell the media that had she not been persuaded to put her son through a gender experiment, he would be alive today.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Further episodes of Human Rights a Day

Further podcasts by Stephen Hammond

Website of Stephen Hammond