Texsox Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 TORONTO - David Reimer, a Canadian who was born as a boy but raised as a girl after a botched circumcision, has committed suicide after failed investments drove him into poverty. He was 38. Reimer died in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 4, according to Canadian media reports. The family has not released the cause of death. Friends said an anguished Reimer had told them he had lost at least $47,500 last year in a shady pro golf shop investment. Reimer gained fame in the mid-1990s when he went public with his ordeal. It was published in the book "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised a Girl" by John Colapinto. The boy's experiences prompted medical experts in recent years to rethink once accepted wisdom on treating sexual identity cases. When he was eight months old in 1965, a routine circumcision at a Winnipeg hospital went horribly wrong when a general practitioner filled in for the regular surgeon and seared the boy's penis with an electric cauterizing machine. His penis was so badly burnt that it eventually fell off. His parents sought advice from Dr. John Money, a sex researcher at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Attempting to prove that gender depends on how a child is raised rather than genetics, Money advocated removing the rest of the male genitalia and prescribing female hormones. Brenda, as he was known, was 15 when he found out about the mishap and rejected further treatment as a girl. He underwent surgery to remove his breasts and to construct a penis from muscle tissue and cartilage. Changing his name to David, he eventually married and led a quiet life working at low-paying jobs in Winnipeg. Colapinto's book brought in money but acquaintances said Reimer was always struggling to make ends meet. Members of the Transcona Golf Club where he had worked once collected several hundred dollars so he could feed his family and staff gave him leftovers from the club restaurant. The final misfortune was losing his savings last year in the golf shop deal, friends said. The Manitoba Securities Commission warned potential investors last November that "your money may be at risk" if it was placed with shop owner Gary Perch. Reimer is survived by his wife, Jane, and two adopted children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 :puke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 :puke :puke :puke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniBob72 Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Regardless of his sexual identity problems, what a selfish bastard. He blew the family's savings, so he kills himself, leaves his wife a widow, children fatherless, and most likely flat broke. Sorry, suicides bring out the anger in me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted May 13, 2004 Author Share Posted May 13, 2004 Regardless of his sexual identity problems, what a selfish bastard. He blew the family's savings, so he kills himself, leaves his wife a widow, children fatherless, and most likely flat broke. Sorry, suicides bring out the anger in me. Maybe he had a nice insurance policy that didn't have a suicide clause for people who were born one sex and raised another Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighHeat45 Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 wow someone told me that earlier today and i didnt believe him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beast Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 That'd suck, having your thing the whole life and finding out your really not a man...ouch!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 That'd suck, having your thing the whole life and finding out your really not a man...ouch!!! Beastly, I've got some bad news for ya. You better sit down. And don't sit like that. It's not lady like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beast Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Beastly, I've got some bad news for ya. You better sit down. And don't sit like that. It's not lady like. Way to be serious cheat. I tried to say it in a serious manner but with a humorous twist, suh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Way to be serious cheat. I tried to say it in a serious manner but with a humorous twist, suh. Maybe you should read it again because that's not what happened... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 TORONTO - David Reimer, a Canadian who was born as a boy but raised as a girl after a botched circumcision, has committed suicide after failed investments drove him into poverty. He was 38. That is what I call a worse Botch than Billy Koch... :puke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beast Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Maybe you should read it again because that's not what happened... Oh the hell with the article, Miss Steff, I just wanted to point out that it'd suck to be a guy girl...that'd be emotionally distraught and disturbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steaming Willy Harris Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 What is actually sad is that we had to read about this guy in my Abnormal Psychology class at school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
israel4ever Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 There are lots of "men" living as women...check out Wrigley Field during any home game! :fthecubs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redandwhite Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 what terrible parents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniBob72 Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 what terrible parents! Parents were told that that was what you do. I recently saw a special on babies born with both male and female gentialia. Doctors would insist on removing the malformed penis and raising the child as a girl. Recently, one doctor went so far as to remove the one testicle against the parents wishes, falsely claiming that the testicle was cancerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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