This is so, so sad...
David Reimer, a man born a boy but raised a girl after a botched circumcision,
took his own life last week. He was 38.
“...his trouble started eight months after he was born in 1965, when
he went for a routine circumcision at a hospital in Winnipeg. The regular
surgeon wasn't available that day, so a general practitioner tried the operation
herself. Something went wrong while she was using an electric cauterizing
machine, which produced a puff of smoke around Mr. Reimer's genitals. "I
heard a sound," said a witness, "just like steak being seared."
The boy's penis was so badly burned that it dried up and fell off. His family
eventually asked for advice from John Money, a well-known sex researcher at
Johns Hopkins University hospital in Baltimore, Md.” (more....)
And since David was one of a set of identical twins, he was ripe for long term
psychological research.
I remember as a psychology student, studying David’s story, known as the
John-Joan case. In defense of his doctor, John Money, the theory that nurture
was a stronger determinant than nature in sexual identity was a common theory at that time.
This is in direct opposition to the current theory that nature is the stronger
influence, especially in males (current research seems to show that females
have a more ‘fluid’ sexuality); but we still really don’t
know. And as a parent, what would you do if your infant son was suddenly without
a penis?
But, no matter how well intentioned everyone was, David (Brenda) had a hard
time during his adolescent years.
“It was when Reimer was 13 and in therapy with a counselor provided
by the Winnipeg school system, that he learned for the first time what had
happened to him. Already he had been stigmatized by fellow classmates. They
had seen his ungainly gait, the muscles that, despite the removal of his testicles,
had begun developing on his neck and arms, and his lack of interest in boys.
"They wouldn't let him use the boys' washroom or the girls'," his
mother, Janet Reimer, recalled. "He had to go in the back alley."
(more...)
Although the details of his suicide have not been revealed, it is apparent
that David lead a very difficult life. And even though it isn’t much of
a consolation, David’s life has added a large amount to our knowledge
of human sexual identity.
“At his funeral yesterday, his father, Ron, just shook his head when
asked whether he wanted to talk. His mother, Janet, leaned forward with tears
in her eyes and whispered: "He was a hero. He showed the doctors. He
was a worldwide hero."
Thanks Lachlan of My
So Called Blog, for a good commentary on this issue and pointing me to the
story of David’s life.
The best compliment
The best thing in the world is when a close friend entrusts you with a to-the-core
revelation about themselves because they would like your love, support, help
and the reality check that only a close friend can give. Sweetie, I love you
and I look forward to watching you on your journey to becoming the wonderful complex
person you are meant to be! Thank you for thinking so much of me! I can’t
wait to give you a hug tomorrow!
I see colors....
Wild, fun bodypainting at the Bodypainting
Gallery! Check out their new photos.
Too Twiggy?
I had someone complain about the last photo that I posted. It seems that the
model is too skinny to be politically correct. Sorry! There is a broad spectrum
of female ‘types’ that do it for me, and I was pulled in by her
cute haircut and facial features. I know that the political wisdom of the times
is that skinny models have starved themselves to achieve ‘the look’,
and are therefore oppressed, but in reality there are some women who are just
naturally reed-thin. My co-leader of Brevard Lesbians is of this type--she eats
anything she wants and remains a size 3 (even in her thirty-something years),
and furthermore, she is extraordinarily sexy–she has the moves!. Do I
hate her for this? Only superficially from envy of course! But the point is
that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and all women are beautiful
to their beloved.
Now, since I preached to you, here is another photo; I hope this is more "PC".
I picked this one particularly for The Pilot;. Honey, let me know if she does
it for you!
Do I need to mention once again that Good
Shit is the source of my sexy photos? Check them out!
9:29:46 PM 
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