Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history as the world’s first man to give birth, a groundbreaking moment that thrust him into the global spotlight. Born female, Thomas transitioned and now identifies as a transgender man. His journey to parenthood began with the birth of his first child, Susan, in 2008, a moment that garnered worldwide attention and stirred public debate.
Thomas’s decision to carry his child was not without challenges. He faced hostility, including death threats from people who couldn’t accept the idea of a man giving birth. But despite the backlash, he remained steadfast in his commitment to live authentically. Since that historic moment, his family has grown to include two sons, and he continues to share his life’s journey.
Born Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino in Hawaii in 1974, Thomas always felt different. By age 10, he identified as male, and at 23, he began testosterone therapy. Before his transition, Thomas led an active life. He modeled and even reached the finals of the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant, showcasing his ambition and talent. He also excelled in martial arts, winning a junior Taekwondo championship at the 1992 Aloha State Games.
In 2002, Thomas took a major step in his transition by undergoing surgery to remove his breasts and legally changing his gender to male. However, he chose to retain his female reproductive organs, a decision that ultimately allowed him to become pregnant. After pausing his testosterone treatments in 2006, Thomas and his then-wife, Nancy, struggled with fertility issues, leading him to carry their child himself.
The iconic 2008 image of a pregnant Thomas Beatie went viral, and he quickly became known as “the pregnant man.” While his story fascinated the world, it also drew harsh criticism. Thomas recalled instances of discrimination, with doctors and healthcare professionals refusing to treat him or acknowledge his relationship with Nancy due to their religious beliefs. Despite the hurdles, Thomas delivered his daughter Susan after a 48-hour labor, marking a historic moment as the first legally recognized man to give birth in a heterosexual marriage.
Over the next five years, Thomas had four more pregnancies, though one ended in an ectopic pregnancy. Together with Nancy, he raised their children — Susan, Austin, and Jensen — in a traditional family setting, even as their story defied societal norms. In a landmark interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2008, Thomas spoke candidly about his belief that having children is a human right, regardless of gender identity.
He emphasized that the desire to parent transcends gender: “It’s not a male or female desire to want to have a child; it’s a human desire.”
Following a difficult divorce from Nancy, Thomas found love again and married Amber in 2016. The couple had known each other since 2012, but their relationship was delayed by the legal complexities of his previous marriage. Now living in Oregon, Thomas and Amber share a busy home with their children and Amber’s grandchild, Lily.
Reflecting on his family life, Thomas noted, “It can get pretty loud with four kids aged 3, 5, 6, and 7, but we love it.” He continues to lead a relatively private life, working as a stockbroker in Phoenix while occasionally doing public speaking and acting. His older children split their time between his home and their mother’s.
Looking back on the whirlwind of attention he experienced 16 years ago, Thomas acknowledged how far society has come in understanding transgender identities. “When my story came out, there wasn’t a single transgender man in the public eye. Most people had never even heard of it,” he said, recalling how his story predated public figures like Chaz Bono and Caitlyn Jenner. “It was a first exposure for a lot of people… and then on top of that, they can give birth! I think exposing the importance of fertility for trans people was a huge eye-opener.”
Though his story sparked intense media coverage and debate, Thomas Beatie remains proud of his journey. “Everything was a whirlwind,” he reflected, “but I still don’t regret it.”
