Thomas Beatie: The First Pregnant Man – 16 Years Later
Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history as the world’s first legally recognized man to become pregnant and give birth. Born female in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy LaGondino, Thomas began identifying as male at age 10 and started hormone therapy at 23. He transitioned, changed his legal gender to male, but kept his female reproductive organs.
In 2008, after stopping testosterone, he gave birth to his first child, Susan, due to fertility issues with his then-wife, Nancy. He later had two sons, raising three children in total. His story gained global media attention, especially after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and he became a symbol for transgender rights.
Despite facing discrimination, hate messages, and media backlash, Thomas stood firm, stating: “It’s not a male or female desire to have a child; it’s a human one.”
After divorcing Nancy, he married Amber in 2016. They live in Oregon with their blended family. Today, Thomas works as a stockbroker in Phoenix, occasionally speaks publicly, and leads a quieter life.
Reflecting on his journey, Thomas said, “When my story came out, there were no visible trans men. It opened the world’s eyes to the reality of fertility in the trans community. I have no regrets.”