He made history as the first man to give birth – 16 years later, this is how he looks now
Born as a female, Thomas transitioned to a male identity, making global headlines when he became the first transgender man to give birth.
His journey to parenthood was far from easy, facing intense opposition and death threats from those who couldn’t accept the idea of a man becoming pregnant.
Despite the challenges, Thomas has remained true to himself and has since expanded his family, which now includes not just his daughter Susan but two sons as well.
Thomas Beatie’s remarkable story began in 1974 in Hawaii, where he was born as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino. At the age of 10, Thomas started identifying as a boy, and by 23, he began hormone therapy.
As a teenager, Thomas excelled in various areas, from modeling—where he reached the finals of the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant—to martial arts, earning a junior championship in Taekwondo
. In 2002, Thomas had breast removal surgery and legally changed his gender on official documents. However, he chose to retain his female reproductive organs, a decision that would later allow him to conceive.
In 2006, Thomas stopped his testosterone treatment in order to try for a child with his then-wife Nancy. After facing fertility struggles, Thomas made the bold choice to carry the pregnancy himself.
In 2008, the world was introduced to Thomas as «the pregnant man,» sparking global attention and controversy.
His decision to carry a child sparked a barrage of hate messages, discrimination from doctors, and rejection from both the media and family.
Despite these obstacles, Thomas remained steadfast, highlighting his belief that anyone—regardless of gender identity—deserves the right to parent.
In 2008, after enduring 48 hours of labor, Thomas gave birth to his first daughter, Susan.
His experience marked a milestone in medical and societal history as the first known case of a legally recognized man giving birth to a child within a marriage.
Over the next few years, he would experience several more pregnancies, raising Susan and sons Austin and Jensen as a family.
In 2008, Thomas appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he discussed the broader implications of his decision.
“It’s not about being male or female; it’s a human desire to have a child,” he emphasized, challenging norms surrounding gender and reproductive rights.
Thomas’s journey continued with a new marriage to Amber in 2016. They moved to Oregon with their blended family, which includes four children, adding to the dynamic of their already lively household.
Today, Thomas lives in Phoenix with his wife Amber and continues to lead a quieter life, occasionally taking on public speaking or acting opportunities.
He also works as a stockbroker, and his children split their time between his home and their mother’s.
Reflecting on the lasting impact of his story, Thomas, now in his 50s, shared that his visibility as a transgender man in the public eye has shaped the way society views transgender individuals.
He acknowledged the weight of his experience, saying, “When my story came out, there wasn’t a single person in the public eye as a transgender man.
This was the first time anyone had seen it.”
Though his life has evolved, Thomas Beatie remains an enduring figure in the fight for transgender rights and representation.
