In a groundbreaking moment 16 years ago, Thomas Beatie etched his name in history as the world’s first man to undergo pregnancy and give birth.
Born female, Thomas underwent a gender transition, now identifying as a transgender man. The global spotlight shone on him when news broke of his remarkable journey to parenthood with the birth of his first daughter, Susan.
This groundbreaking chapter in Thomas Beatie’s life was not without adversity. He received numerous death threats from those who opposed the idea of a man giving birth.
Yet Thomas remained steadfast, embracing his truth and living authentically. Today, his family has grown to include not only his daughter Susan but also two sons, making him the proud father of three children. His remarkable journey continues to unfold.
Born in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas began identifying as male at the age of ten. By 23, he had started testosterone therapy, embarking on a transition that would ultimately capture worldwide attention.
As a teenager, Thomas was ambitious and accomplished. He pursued modeling and even became a finalist in the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. Beyond the spotlight, he excelled in martial arts, winning a junior championship in Taekwondo at the 1992 Aloha State Games.
In 2002, Thomas underwent chest reconstruction surgery and legally changed his sex marker to male on both state and federal documents. However, he made the deliberate decision to retain his female reproductive organs—a choice that would later enable him to conceive.
In 2006, Thomas temporarily stopped his hormone therapy with the hope of starting a family. When fertility issues arose with his then-wife Nancy, he made the bold decision to carry the pregnancy himself, marking a pivotal moment in both his personal life and public discourse.
The now-iconic image of Thomas Beatie with a visibly pregnant belly first emerged in 2008, sending shockwaves around the globe. Dubbed “the pregnant man” by the media, his story rapidly captured international attention.
But behind the headlines lay a deeply challenging journey. Thomas faced an onslaught of hate mail and death threats, some even originating from established media organizations.
“We were discriminated against by doctors who turned us away due to their religious beliefs,” Thomas later revealed. “Medical staff refused to use male pronouns for me or acknowledge Nancy as my wife. We were mocked by receptionists. Friends and family offered little support—most of Nancy’s relatives still don’t know I’m transgender.”
Despite the adversity, Thomas and Nancy remained resilient. After a grueling 48-hour labor, their daughter Susan was born healthy and thriving. Opting for a natural birth, Thomas defied both medical skepticism and societal norms. His case became the first documented instance of a legally recognized man giving birth while married to a woman.
Over a five-year period without testosterone, Thomas Beatie experienced four pregnancies—one of which was ectopic. Alongside his first wife, Nancy, he raised their three children—Susan, Austin, and Jensen—while embracing a family life rooted in love and traditional values.
In April 2008, Thomas made a landmark appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he shared his story in an exclusive hour-long interview. Speaking to a global audience, he passionately defended his right to parent as a transgender man.
“It’s not a male or female desire to want to have a child; it’s a human desire,” he said. “I’m a person, and I have the right to have my own biological child.”
His message was a bold affirmation of personal autonomy, pushing back against rigid norms and reshaping the conversation around gender, identity, and parenthood.
In 2016, Thomas entered a new chapter, marrying a new partner, Amber. Despite having known each other since 2012, a tumultuous divorce with Nancy delayed Thomas and Amber’s nuptials.
The couple moved to Oregon with their blended family, consisting of Susan, Austin, Jensen, and Amber’s grandchild Lily.
Reflecting on their bustling household, Thomas shared: “It can get pretty loud with four kids aged 3, 5, 6, and 7, but we love it,” in an interview with Daily Mail.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Thomas Beatie offered a glimpse into his life today. Now working as a stockbroker in Phoenix, he lives with his wife Amber, whom he met at the daycare his children once attended.
His older children split their time between his home and their mother’s, just ten miles away.
Thomas describes his current lifestyle as relatively quiet. Though mostly out of the spotlight, he occasionally accepts public-speaking engagements and modest acting roles.
Reflecting on the media frenzy that surrounded him 16 years ago, Thomas acknowledged the lasting impact of those transformative years—moments that not only defined a chapter of his life but also sparked global conversations about gender, identity, and family.
