Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history as the first man to experience pregnancy, marking a groundbreaking moment in the world’s understanding of gender and parenthood.
Assigned female at birth, Thomas later transitioned and now lives as a transgender man. His journey captured global attention when he welcomed his first daughter, Susan, into the world.
However, his path was far from easy. The idea of a man giving birth sparked intense controversy, and Thomas received numerous death threats from those who opposed his story.
Despite the backlash, he has remained unwavering in embracing his true identity. Today, his family has grown beyond Susan—he is now a father to two sons as well.
With a total of three children, Thomas Beatie’s story continues to evolve….
Born in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas Beatie’s life journey would eventually capture global attention. From a young age, Thomas identified as a boy, and by 23, he had started testosterone therapy to align with his gender identity.
As a teenager, Thomas demonstrated ambition and talent. He worked as a model and even became a finalist in the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. He also excelled in martial arts, competing in karate and Taekwondo. His dedication paid off in 1992 when he won a junior Taekwondo championship at the Aloha State Games.
In 2002, Thomas took a significant step in his transition by undergoing chest surgery and updating his sex marker to “male” on both state and federal documents. However, he chose to keep his female reproductive organs, a decision that would become crucial to his story later on.
In 2006, with hopes of starting a family, Thomas paused his testosterone therapy. When his then-wife Nancy faced fertility struggles, Thomas made the bold choice to carry the child himself, a move that would make headlines around the world.
The striking image of Thomas Beatie with a visibly pregnant belly first emerged in 2008, capturing global attention. Dubbed by the media as “the pregnant man,” his story quickly spread across the world.
However, his journey was anything but easy. Beatie faced an onslaught of hate mail and even death threats, some coming from well-established media organizations.
“Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender,” Thomas later revealed.
After an exhausting 48-hour labor, Thomas and Nancy welcomed their first child, Susan, into the world—healthy and thriving. Choosing to give birth naturally, Thomas defied expectations, making history as the first legally recognized man to deliver a baby while married to a woman.
Over the next five years, while off testosterone therapy, Thomas experienced four more pregnancies—one of which ended in an ectopic pregnancy. Together with Nancy, he raised Susan and their two sons, Austin and Jensen, striving to build a loving and traditional family.
In April 2008, Thomas Beatie made a landmark television appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he sat down for an exclusive hour-long interview. Speaking to an international audience, he passionately defended his right to bear children, emphasizing that reproductive freedom should not be limited by gender identity.
Thomas Beatie, known as the first pregnant man, continues to challenge gender norms. He insists, “Wanting a child isn’t male or female—it’s human.”
After divorcing Nancy, he married Amber in 2016 and moved to Oregon with their blended family. Now in his 50s, Thomas works as a stockbroker in Phoenix and occasionally does public speaking and acting.
Reflecting on his past, he acknowledges being a trailblazer for trans visibility: “When my story came out, most people had never heard of a transgender man.” Yet, he remains proud: “I don’t regret it.”