In a historic moment 16 years ago, Thomas Beatie became known as the world’s first man to give birth.
Born female, Thomas transitioned to identify as a transgender man.
He captured global attention when he shared his incredible journey to parenthood with the birth of his first daughter, Susan.
This milestone was not without difficulties.
Thomas received numerous death threats from people who opposed the idea of a man giving birth.
Despite the backlash, Thomas has remained true to himself. Today, his family has grown to include daughter Susan and two sons.
Thomas Beatie’s story continues to change with his three children.
Born in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas began a journey that would make headlines worldwide. At age ten, he started identifying as a boy, and by 23, he began testosterone therapy.
During his teenage years, Thomas was very driven. He worked as a model and reached the finals of the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. He also excelled in martial arts, winning a junior championship in Taekwondo at the 1992 Aloha State Games.
In 2002, Thomas had surgery to remove his breasts and changed his legal documents to identify as male. However, he chose to keep his female reproductive organs, a choice that allowed him to become pregnant later.
In a surprising turn in 2006, he stopped his testosterone treatment to try to conceive. After facing fertility issues with his then-wife Nancy, Thomas bravely decided to carry the child himself.
The famous image of Thomas Beatie with a big pregnant belly first appeared in 2008, making headlines around the world. The media called him “the pregnant man,” and his story quickly gained attention.
However, the journey was not easy. Thomas received hate emails and death threats from many people, including some media outlets.
“Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away because of their beliefs. Health care workers refused to call me by male pronouns or recognize Nancy as my wife. Some receptionists even laughed at us. Friends and family were not supportive; many of Nancy’s relatives don’t even know I’m transgender,” Thomas said later.
After a long 48-hour labor, Thomas and Nancy welcomed their first child, Susan, who was born healthy and happy. Thomas chose to have a natural birth, surprising many. His case was the first documented instance of a legally recognized man giving birth while married to a woman.
Over five years without testosterone, Thomas had four more pregnancies, including one ectopic pregnancy. He and his first wife, Nancy, raised their daughter Susan and their sons Austin and Jensen, presenting themselves as a traditional family with strong values.
In a major television appearance, Thomas Beatie was featured in an exclusive hour-long interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show in April 2008. He spoke to a global audience about his belief that everyone has the right to have a child, regardless of their gender identity.
During the interview, Beatie stressed, “It’s not just a male or female desire to have a child; it’s a human desire. I’m a person, and I have the right to have my own biological child.” His statement highlighted his personal freedom and challenged traditional views on gender and parenting.
In 2016, Thomas started a new chapter by marrying Amber. They had known each other since 2012, but a difficult divorce from Nancy delayed their wedding. The couple moved to Oregon with their blended family, which includes Susan, Austin, Jensen, and Amber’s grandchild Lily.
Reflecting on their lively home, Thomas said, “It can get pretty loud with four kids aged 3, 5, 6, and 7, but we love it,” in an interview with Daily Mail.
Sixteen years have passed since Thomas Beatie first made headlines, but he still makes occasional appearances on social media and in the news.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Thomas revealed that he now works as a stockbroker in Phoenix. He lives with his wife, Amber, whom he met at the daycare where his children went. His older children split their time between his home and their mother’s, which is about ten miles away.
Thomas leads a mostly quiet life but occasionally does public speaking and small acting jobs.
Looking back at the intense attention he received 16 years ago, Thomas reflected on how those moments shaped his life.
“When my story came out, no one had seen a transgender man in the public eye — most people hadn’t even heard of it,” Thomas, now in his 50s, said. “This was before Chaz Bono, before Caitlyn Jenner. People were just starting to learn about it, and then to find out trans men can give birth? It really opened people’s eyes to the importance of fertility for trans people.”
“Everything felt like a whirlwind,” he added, “But I still don’t regret it.”
