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The January 18, 2005 episode of NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Season 6, Episode 12) featured a plot based on the true story of the "John/Joan" twin case, which was made famous by John Colapinto's book, "As Nature Made Him." In the true "John/Joan" case, the genetic male who was raised as a girl after the circumcision accident burned off his penis was later told of his medical history and chose to go back to living as a man; however, in this television program, the medical history is exposed in the course of crime investigation in which the genetic male being raised as a girl is a sexual assault victim.
At the beginning of the episode, investigators find the body of a dead man, a known sex offender, who apparently fell off from the roof when his victim bit his penis in self-defense. From the DNA sample in the victim's saliva, which clearly included a Y chromosome, they determine that the fourteen-year old boy Logan was the victim--but it was his twin sister Lindsey who confessed to having been assaulted at the scene. Investigators initially suspect that Lindsey is covering for Logan by telling stories that only he could know--until their old medical record reveal the "shocking" truth, which was that Logan and Lindsey were born identical twins.
Investigators confront the parents: "What happened? Is it that you just had to have a boy and a girl?" "It was a freak accident. They do it hundred times a day. It's supposed to be a routine procedure." "What?" "Circumcision... They used some sort of device to remove foreskin--it malfunctioned. Burned him severely. We spoke to all those experts, and they all said that he will never be normal... Imagine the abuse he'd take in locker rooms. Humiliation of explaining it to the girl he fell in love with. We couldn't put him through that." "Did you think that sex change operation would be easier for him?" "What else could we do? Dr. Blair convinced us that it was the only hope our child had for a normal life... He promised us that it would work. He promised us, as long as we are committed to raising him as a girl."
Next, investigators visit Dr. Blair, a character obviously based on psychologist/sexologist John Money. "Any plastic surgeon would tell you that it's easier to dig a hole than to build a pole... In order for the experiment to work, she has to look like a girl, be treated like a girl, and taught to act like a girl... Children are born psychosexually neutral, a blank slate. Gender identity is determined by nurture, not nature."
Investigators then go back to Lindsey to tell her that they would not press charge against her because it was self-defense, but Lindsey is rightfully confused about what had happened. "But I don't understand... You said my brother had to have done it. Just tell me what's going on! I feel like I'm going crazy. Please." It is at this point Lindsey is finally told the truth despite the objection of Dr. Blair. "You were born a boy. There was an accident right after you were born." "I knew it! I never once felt right! Why didn't anybody tell me? Why didn't you tell me? What was my name?" Almost immediately, Lindsey stops taking estrogen and chooses to transition back to his genetic gender.
But that is not all: Logan wishes to press charge against Dr. Blair. "He molested us. He used to show us these pictures of adults having sex. He pushed us into positions. He used to make me and my sister pretend we are having sex." This is the detail similar to Dr. Money's practice described in "As Nature Made Him." In response, Dr. Blair insists that everything was necessary part of the treatment. "It was important to differentiate their gender roles... It clarified things for Lindsey. She had to be programmed. It's perfectly normal for children to explore each others' bodies." "So you are not denying any of the allegations Logan made about your practices?" "Denying? I'm writing a book about it."
In the end, however, Dr. Blair is found murdered in his office. They find the DNA and security camera evidences indicating that either Logan or Lindsey--now going by Luke--must have committed the crime, but they cannot figure out which one did it. "They came up with a perfect crime." "Until you get one of them to flip." "That's not going to happen. They are too close." The scene pans out as Logan and Luke, now wearing similar clothes and hairstyles, feel each other's presence through the holding cell wall.
This was one piece of amazing television program. It's a sad and devastating story that is too familiar to many of us, told through a very sympathetic voice. Producers should be commended for not presenting the story simply as a freaky episode about gender, and depicted the real-life pain arising from secrecy, betrayal and sexual abuse. Unfortunately, in the real "John/Joan" case both twins--Brian and David Reimer--have committed suicide, as did many others who were treated similarly by the medical system because of accidental loss of penis or because of a congenital intersex condition.
Here at Intersex Initiative, we are doing our part of avenging the wrong that has been done to us and our friends through our activism (so join us!). Meanwhile: doctors, take note. While we don't advocate violence as a solution, Logan and Luke aren't the only ones who felt the urge to physically harm their doctors.
Posted by Emi on Jan 20, 2005