A conjoined twin has opened up about his true gender identity after living for 46 years as a woman.
George Schappell and his sister Lori, 61-year-old conjoined twins from Pennsylvania, have already defied significant odds—doctors initially believed they wouldn't live past their 30th birthday. Now, they're making headlines for an entirely different reason.
Lori, an accomplished 10-pin bowler, and George, an enthusiastic country and western singer, are joined at the head but have always lived life to the fullest.
According to an interview with The Sun, George, who was formerly named Dori and assigned female at birth, always knew deep down that he was a male. "I have known from a very young age that I should have been a boy," George admitted. "I loved playing with trains and hated girly outfits. I kept my desire to change sex hidden - even from Lori - for many years."
Living most of his life under the name Dori, George finally took the courageous step of coming out to his sister.
"It was so tough, but I was getting older and I simply didn’t want to live a lie. I knew I had to live my life the way I wanted," he said.
Although George hasn't undergone sex reassignment surgery, he now identifies as male and dresses in attire typically considered masculine.
Lori responded to her brother's revelation with unwavering support: "Obviously it was a shock when Dori changed to George, but I am so proud of him. It was a huge decision but we have overcome so much in our lives and together we are such a strong team. Nothing can break that."
Adding another layer to their fascinating lives, Lori shared that she was once engaged but tragically lost her fiancé to a drunk driving accident. When it comes to dating, Lori remains optimistic and doesn't want her status as a conjoined twin to limit her experiences. "When I went on dates, George would bring along books to read and, as we don’t face each other, he could ignore any kissing," she disclosed.
Despite sharing a conjoined life, the twins maintain their individual personalities and spaces. Lori describes her room as "girly," while George's space has plenty of music posters and personal memorabilia.
On a lighter note, George divulged that while Lori enjoys the occasional vodka orange, he abstains from drinking. Given that their bodies - for the most part - are separate, Lori experiences a hangover, while he remains unaffected.
Born with differing physical abilities—Lori at five feet one inch and fully able-bodied, and George at four feet four inches with spina bifida—the pair's story is a testament to overcoming challenges and societal norms.
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