In 1966, David Reimer's circumcision was botched and he lost his penis to burns. Psychologist John Money suggested that David be given a sex change, his parents agreed. Money then used David to prove that gender identity was not inborn, but determined by upbringing. David was renamed Brenda and surgically altered to have a vagina. Brenda acted like a boy throughout childhood. At 14, Brenda was told the truth, and decided to go back to being David. He committed suicide at the age of 38.In 1966, David Reimer's circumcision was botched and he lost his penis to burns. Psychologist John Money suggested that David be given a sex change, his parents agreed. Money then used David to prove that gender identity was not inborn, but determined by upbringing. David was renamed Brenda and surgically altered to have a vagina. Brenda acted like a boy throughout childhood. At 14, Brenda was told the truth, and decided to go back to being David. He committed suicide at the age of 38.
In 1966, David Reimer's circumcision was botched and he lost his penis to burns. Psychologist John Money suggested that David be given a sex change, his parents agreed. Money then used David to prove that gender identity was not inborn, but determined by upbringing. David was renamed Brenda and surgically altered to have a vagina. Brenda acted like a boy throughout childhood. At 14, Brenda was told the truth, and decided to go back to being David. He committed suicide at the age of 38.