Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie stunned the world and forever changed perceptions of parenthood when he became the first man to give birth. His story quickly spread across global headlines, sparking both admiration and controversy.
Born female, Thomas transitioned and now lives as a transgender man. What made his journey unique was his decision to carry a child himself, a decision that culminated in the birth of his first daughter, Susan. The moment was hailed by some as groundbreaking, while others fiercely criticized it, unable to accept the idea of a man bringing life into the world.
The reaction was intense. While many celebrated his courage and authenticity, Thomas also faced vicious backlash. He received death threats, endured public ridicule, and found himself at the center of heated debates about gender, biology, and identity. Yet through it all, he stood firm, determined to live his truth and build the family he had always dreamed of.
Now, more than a decade and a half later, Thomas’s life looks very different. No longer just the man who made history with a single pregnancy, he is the proud father of three children — daughter Susan and two sons. His family has grown, and with it, so has his perspective on what it means to be both a father and a parent who once gave birth.
For Thomas, his story has never just been about defying expectations. It’s about showing the world that family comes in many forms, and that love, commitment, and resilience matter far more than conventional labels. He has continued to advocate for transgender rights and visibility, using his platform to challenge stereotypes and to remind people that living authentically is not only possible but powerful.
Sixteen years on, Thomas Beatie remains a symbol of courage, persistence, and the evolving definition of family. His story is no longer just about being the “first man to give birth.” It is about raising children, facing adversity, and proving that the most extraordinary journeys often begin with one deeply personal choice.
And as he continues forward, his legacy isn’t only written in headlines — it lives on through his three children, the love they share, and the barriers he helped break for future generations.
Born in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas Beatie’s life would go on to defy convention and capture global attention. From an early age, Thomas knew he was different. By the time he was just ten years old, he identified as a boy, even though the world around him still perceived him as female. That sense of identity only grew stronger with time, and at the age of 23, he began testosterone therapy — a pivotal step in his transition.
Even before his transition, Thomas had been ambitious, determined, and goal-driven. As a teenager, he pursued a variety of paths that showcased his versatility and resilience. He entered the world of modeling and achieved success there, even reaching the finals of the prestigious Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. Alongside his foray into modeling, Thomas also developed a passion for martial arts. He trained rigorously in karate and Taekwondo, ultimately excelling in competition. His dedication and skill culminated in a notable victory at the 1992 Aloha State Games, where he claimed the junior championship title in Taekwondo.
In 2002, Thomas made another decisive move in his journey. He underwent chest reconstruction surgery to remove his breasts, marking a significant physical step in his transition. Soon after, he legally changed the sex marker on both his state and federal documents from “female” to “male.” Yet despite those changes, he chose to retain his female reproductive organs. At the time, it was a private and practical choice, but one that would later become a crucial part of his extraordinary story.
By 2006, Thomas’s life took a direction that no one could have anticipated. He paused his testosterone treatments, motivated by a powerful dream — the dream of becoming a parent. His then-wife, Nancy, struggled with fertility issues, and after much thought and courage, Thomas made the life-changing decision to carry their child himself. It was a decision rooted in love, resilience, and determination, and one that would eventually make him a symbol around the world.
The now-iconic photograph of Thomas Beatie with his rounded, heavily pregnant belly first made global headlines in 2008, shocking audiences and sparking conversations across every corner of the world. Overnight, he became known as “the pregnant man,” with the media seizing on his story and propelling it into the international spotlight. What many saw as groundbreaking and inspiring, others greeted with hostility and disbelief, making Thomas’s journey as turbulent as it was historic.
While the image symbolized hope and progress for many in the transgender community, Thomas was simultaneously subjected to an avalanche of negativity. Hate mail and even death threats poured in — not just from anonymous individuals but also from mainstream media outlets that openly criticized his decision. The scrutiny was relentless, and at times, dangerous.
Thomas himself later reflected on the discrimination he and Nancy endured during this period. “Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs,” he revealed. “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.” These words laid bare the intense personal and systemic prejudice they faced while trying to build their family.
Despite the challenges, Thomas pressed forward with remarkable determination. When the time came to welcome their first child, he endured a grueling 48-hour labor before finally giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Susan. Choosing to have a natural birth, Thomas once again defied conventional expectations and reaffirmed his strength.
This moment was more than just a personal milestone. It represented a first in history: a legally recognized man carrying and giving birth to a child within a marital union with a woman. What began as a deeply personal journey soon became a symbol of resilience, authenticity, and the evolving definition of family.
Beatie Family/TB/Getty Images
During the five years he remained off testosterone, Thomas Beatie went through four separate pregnancies — though not all without hardship. One ended in an ectopic pregnancy, a painful and emotionally difficult experience. Despite this, he and his then-wife Nancy went on to welcome three children: their daughter Susan, followed by two sons, Austin and Jensen. Together, the couple raised their children in what they described as a loving, traditional household built on strong family values.
In April 2008, Thomas made his most high-profile appearance to date when he sat down for an exclusive, hour-long interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The broadcast reached millions worldwide, placing Thomas in the center of an international conversation about gender, identity, and the meaning of parenthood. Calm and composed, he used the opportunity to explain not only his own experience but also his broader belief in reproductive freedom for transgender people.
On air, he addressed the heart of the controversy directly: “It’s not a male or female desire to want to have a child; it’s a human desire. I’m a person, and I have the right to have my own biological child.”
These words carried far beyond the studio, resonating with people across the globe. They underscored the universality of parenthood, while challenging rigid social constructs of gender roles. For Thomas, it was never about making a spectacle — it was about affirming his humanity and asserting that transgender individuals are entitled to the same dreams and rights as anyone else.
His appearance on Oprah solidified his place as both a cultural lightning rod and a trailblazer. For many supporters, he became a symbol of resilience and courage; for critics, he remained controversial. But either way, his message was impossible to ignore: that the desire to create and nurture life is not confined by gender identity, but instead is one of the most profoundly human instincts of all.
Thomas Beatie and his family, ex-wife Nancy, Austin, Susan and Jensen enjoy a day at Grona Lund amusement park on August 7, 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Christopher Hunt/TB/Getty Images)
By 2016, Thomas Beatie had turned the page to a new chapter in his life when he married Amber, the woman who would become both his partner and confidante. Though the two had first crossed paths back in 2012, their relationship was put on hold as Thomas endured a difficult and drawn-out divorce from his first wife, Nancy. Only after that chapter finally closed were Thomas and Amber able to formally unite their lives in marriage.
The couple soon settled in Oregon, where they built a blended household filled with the energy and chaos of children. Together, they raised Thomas’s three kids — Susan, Austin, and Jensen — alongside Amber’s grandchild, Lily. The family dynamic brought challenges, but also joy. In one interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas painted a vivid picture of their lively home, saying: “It can get pretty loud with four kids aged 3, 5, 6, and 7, but we love it.” His words reflected not only the noise and busyness of raising young children, but also the deep sense of love and purpose that family life continued to give him.
Now, more than sixteen years since first stepping into the global spotlight as “the pregnant man,” Thomas remains a figure who sparks curiosity and conversation. While he no longer dominates headlines as he once did, he still makes occasional appearances online and across social media platforms, where his story resurfaces in people’s feeds as a reminder of both his unique journey and the ongoing dialogue around gender, parenthood, and identity.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Thomas Beatie offered a glimpse into the life he leads today, far removed from the media frenzy that once surrounded him. Now based in Phoenix, he has built a steady career as a stockbroker — a profession that reflects his shift toward stability and normalcy after years of being thrust into the global spotlight. He continues to share his home with his wife Amber, the woman he first met at the daycare where his children were enrolled, a detail that underscores the ordinary, everyday beginnings of what has become a lasting partnership.
Life for Beatie and his family is one of balance. His older children divide their time between his residence and their mother’s home, which is located just ten miles away, allowing them to maintain close ties with both parents. While his daily routine is largely centered on work and family, Thomas occasionally steps back into public life. From time to time, he takes on speaking engagements and even accepts modest acting opportunities — reminders that, while he has chosen a quieter path, his story still resonates with audiences.
Reflecting on the whirlwind that began 16 years ago when his pregnant image made international headlines, Beatie recognizes the enduring impact of those events. He understands that his journey was not only a deeply personal chapter in his own life but also a cultural moment that sparked debates about gender, identity, and parenthood that continue to this day.
Looking back on his journey, Thomas Beatie — now 50 years old — reflected on just how unprecedented his story truly was. “When my story came out, there wasn’t a single person in the public eye as a transgender man — most people had never even heard of it,” he recalled.
At the time, there were no cultural touchpoints or widely known figures to contextualize his experience. “This was pre-Chaz Bono. This was pre-Caitlyn Jenner. This was before anyone knew anything. It was a first exposure for a lot of people,” he explained. What made it even more groundbreaking, he noted, was that his story brought a rarely discussed issue to the forefront: “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.”
Beatie described those years as a blur, a whirlwind of intense media attention, controversy, and scrutiny that few could have prepared for. Yet even with the backlash and the pressures of being a global headline, he remains firm in his outlook. “Everything was a whirlwind,” he admitted, “but I still don’t regret it.”