Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history as the first transgender man to become pregnant and give birth. Born female, Thomas transitioned to male and became internationally known when he gave birth to his first daughter, Susan. His journey into parenthood, however, was met with significant backlash, including death threats from people opposed to the idea of a man giving birth. Despite this, Thomas remained steadfast in living his truth and has since expanded his family with two sons, continuing his remarkable story.
Born in Hawaii in 1974 as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas identified as male from a young age and began his transition at 23 by starting testosterone therapy. He was a driven individual, excelling in both modeling and martial arts, where he won a junior championship in Taekwondo in 1992. In 2002, Thomas underwent surgery to remove his breasts and officially changed his sex marker from female to male on his legal documents. However, he chose to retain his female reproductive organs, a decision that would allow him to eventually conceive.
In 2006, after stopping his testosterone treatment, Thomas decided to carry a child with his then-wife, Nancy, who had faced fertility challenges. The media went into a frenzy when Thomas, visibly pregnant, was photographed in 2008, earning the title “the pregnant man.” His story spread worldwide, but the attention came with a cost—hate mail, death threats, and discrimination from medical professionals who refused to acknowledge his male gender.
Despite the obstacles, Thomas gave birth to Susan in a natural 48-hour labor, making history as the first legally recognized male to give birth within a heterosexual marriage. Over the next five years, without testosterone, Thomas experienced four more pregnancies, including one that resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. He and Nancy raised their children as a traditional family.
Thomas gained further attention in April 2008 when he appeared on *The Oprah Winfrey Show* to discuss his belief in the reproductive rights of transgender individuals, emphasizing that the desire to have a child is a human, not gender-specific, experience. His appearance on the show highlighted his personal autonomy and challenged societal views on gender and parenthood.
In 2016, Thomas began a new chapter, marrying Amber, a woman he had known since 2012. The couple, along with their blended family of four children, relocated to Oregon. Thomas described their lively household, which includes his children and Amber’s grandchild, as joyful and chaotic.
Now in his 50s, Thomas lives a quieter life in Phoenix, where he works as a stockbroker. He continues to take on public speaking and acting opportunities occasionally. Reflecting on his early fame, Thomas acknowledged the lasting impact of his story, noting that at the time, there were no visible transgender men in the media. His experience opened eyes to the issue of fertility among transgender people, which had been largely overlooked.
Though his journey was filled with challenges, Thomas has no regrets about his decision to share his story with the world.