Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history by becoming the world’s first man to give birth. Born female, Thomas underwent a gender transition and identified as a transgender man. His remarkable journey to parenthood sparked both amazement and controversy worldwide.
Thomas’s story began in Hawaii, where he was born Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino in 1974. From a young age, Thomas identified as a boy and began testosterone therapy at 23. He later underwent surgery to remove his breasts and officially changed his sex marker to male.
However, Thomas chose to retain his female reproductive organs, a decision that would later enable him to become pregnant. In 2006, Thomas halted his testosterone treatment and began trying to conceive with his then-wife Nancy. After facing fertility challenges, Thomas made the courageous decision to carry the child himself.
The news of Thomas’s pregnancy sent shockwaves around the world, with many struggling to understand the concept of a man giving birth. Thomas faced intense scrutiny and even received death threats from those who opposed his decision.
Despite the challenges, Thomas remained determined to become a father. In 2008, he gave birth to a healthy daughter, Susan, during a 48-hour labor. Thomas’s case marked the first documented instance of a legally recognized male giving birth within a marital union with a woman.
Over the years, Thomas has continued to defy expectations and challenge conventional perceptions surrounding gender and parenthood. He has since had three more children and has been married twice. Today, Thomas lives a relatively quiet life in Phoenix, working as a stockbroker and occasionally taking on public-speaking jobs and acting opportunities.
Looking back on his remarkable journey, Thomas acknowledges the lasting impact of his story. “When my story came out, there wasn’t a single person in the public eye as a transgender man,” he reflects. “I think exposing the importance of fertility for trans people was a huge eye-opener.” Thomas’s inspiring story continues to educate and enlighten people around the world, challenging them to rethink their assumptions about gender and identity.
