Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made headlines worldwide as the first man in history to carry and give birth to a child. His story was not only groundbreaking—it challenged society’s understanding of gender, identity, and parenthood. Born as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino in 1974 in Hawaii, Thomas always felt different. By the age of ten, he began to identify as male. At 23, he began hormone therapy and started his transition. While many transgender men choose to undergo complete gender reassignment, Thomas made the deeply personal decision to keep his female reproductive organs. That choice would later shape the course of his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
Before his transition, Thomas led an accomplished life. As a teenager, he was ambitious and active, pursuing a modeling career and even becoming a finalist in the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. He also excelled in martial arts and won a junior championship in Taekwondo at the 1992 Aloha State Games. In 2002, Thomas underwent chest reconstruction surgery and officially changed his gender marker on all identification documents. By then, he was legally recognized as male by both the state and federal government.
In 2006, Thomas and his wife at the time, Nancy, faced fertility issues. With Nancy unable to conceive, Thomas made the bold decision to stop his testosterone treatments in hopes of becoming pregnant himself. This decision was met with intense scrutiny and widespread disbelief. Still, he moved forward, believing in his right to have a biological child. In 2008, a photograph of Thomas—bearded and visibly pregnant—stunned the world. Media outlets quickly labeled him “the pregnant man,” and the story exploded across global news platforms. But with visibility came hostility. Thomas received hate mail, death threats, and ridicule from both individuals and even some professionals within the medical field.
He later spoke candidly about the discrimination he and Nancy endured during the pregnancy. “Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Health care professionals refused to call me by male pronouns or acknowledge Nancy as my wife. Receptionists laughed at us. Even our friends and family were not supportive. Most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender,” he shared. Despite all the resistance, Thomas gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Susan, after a 48-hour labor. His determination to go through a natural birth challenged perceptions and marked the first documented case of a legally recognized man giving birth within a heterosexual marriage.
Over the next five years, Thomas went through four more pregnancies—one of which sadly ended in an ectopic pregnancy. Together with Nancy, he raised Susan and their two sons, Austin and Jensen. The family presented themselves as a typical, loving household, even as they continued to navigate public curiosity and media attention. In April 2008, Thomas appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” offering an in-depth look into his life and the reasons behind his choice to carry a child. His message was clear: “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.”
This appearance marked a significant cultural moment. His story challenged traditional norms and ignited conversations around gender identity, reproduction rights, and the medical treatment of transgender individuals. As he became a household name, Thomas used his platform to advocate for the transgender community and educate the public on the complexities of identity and family.
After years of raising children together, Thomas and Nancy eventually went their separate ways. In 2016, after a long and emotional divorce process, Thomas married Amber, whom he had known since 2012. The couple moved to Oregon and blended their families. In addition to Susan, Austin, and Jensen, Amber’s granddaughter, Lily, became part of their bustling home. “It can get pretty loud with four kids aged 3, 5, 6, and 7, but we love it,” Thomas said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Although he is no longer in the public spotlight as much as he once was, Thomas still occasionally posts on social media and appears in interviews. In a conversation with USA Today, he shared that he now works as a stockbroker in Phoenix, Arizona. His older children split their time between his home and their mother’s, who lives about ten miles away. Thomas has embraced a quieter lifestyle, though he still takes part in occasional public speaking engagements and has dabbled in acting.
Looking back, Thomas acknowledges the chaos and attention that surrounded his story. “When my story came out, there wasn’t a single person in the public eye as a transgender man—most people had never heard of it,” he said. “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. 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.”
Reflecting on everything he endured—the judgment, the media frenzy, the emotional and physical toll—Thomas remains grounded in his convictions. “Everything was a whirlwind,” he said. “But I still don’t regret it.” His story stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring pursuit of authenticity. Through the lens of parenthood, identity, and courage, Thomas Beatie opened a conversation that continues to evolve and inspire to this day.
