A conjoined twin has explained how she and her brother make intimacy work with her boyfriends.
Lori and George Schappell, 61, are currently the oldest conjoined twins in the world, living completely separate lives despite being joined at the head.
While also being the oldest, the duo are actually the first conjoined twins to openly identify as different genders after George (who was born Dori) started living as a man in 2007 after transitioning.
At 61, Lori and George Schappell are currently the oldest conjoined twins in the world. Credit: Everett Collection Inc / Alamy
The Sun detailed that Lori has previously had boyfriends and that she and her brother found a way to get around the inevitable awkwardness surrounding intimacy. “I lost my virginity at the age of 23 to my second boyfriend,” she told the outlet, adding that: “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. I don’t see why being a conjoined twin should stop me having a love life and feeling like a woman.”
Devastatingly, just four months before Lori was set to tie the knot with her fiancé in 2006, he was reportedly killed by a drunk driver.
The twins took part in an Our Life documentary in 1997, which showcased how the the siblings went about their daily lives. During that interview, Lori expressed her desire to have children, saying: “I would love to have myself a family – a husband and children of mine.”
At that time, George had not yet transitioned and preferred to be known as Reba because the twins were not so fond of having rhyming names.
