14 Facts About David Reimer

David Reimer killed himself at age 38, two days after being petitioned for divorce by his wife.

David Reimer was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 22 August 1965, the elder of identical twin boys.

David Reimer was originally named Bruce, and his identical twin was named Brian.

At that time, surgical construction of the vagina was more advanced than construction of the penis, and Money believed that David Reimer would be happiest in adulthood living as a woman with functioning genitalia.

At the age of 22 months, David Reimer underwent a bilateral orchiectomy, in which his testes were surgically removed and a rudimentary vulva was constructed by genital plastic surgery.

David Reimer was reassigned to be raised as female and given the name Brenda.

David Reimer eventually ceased attending the school and was tutored privately.

At the age of 14, having been informed of his past by his father, Reimer decided to assume a male gender identity, calling himself David.

David Reimer underwent treatment to reverse the reassignment, including testosterone injections, a double mastectomy, and phalloplasty operations.

David Reimer worked in a slaughterhouse and then worked doing odd jobs.

David Reimer's hobbies included camping, fishing, antiques and collecting old coins.

David Reimer was ostracized and bullied by peers, and neither frilly dresses nor female hormones made him feel female.

Diamond's report and Colapinto's subsequent book about David Reimer influenced several medical practices, reputations, and even current understanding of the biology of gender.

David Reimer's story was included in Chapter 11 of American author Sam Kean's 2021 nonfiction book The Icepick Surgeon, which chronicles many instances of scientific and medical malpractice over time.