He was the first man in the world to give birth – 16 years later, he looks like this
Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history as the first man to undergo pregnancy. Born female and transitioning to a transgender man, Thomas captured global attention with the birth of his daughter, Susan. His journey, however, was fraught with challenges, including death threats and discrimination.
Born in 1974 in Hawaii, Thomas began identifying as male at ten and started testosterone therapy at 23. He transitioned surgically in 2002 but retained his female reproductive organs, enabling him to conceive. In 2006, after facing fertility issues with his wife, Nancy, he chose to carry their child, culminating in a widely publicized pregnancy in 2008.
Thomas faced significant backlash but remained a steadfast advocate for transgender rights. After four pregnancies and the birth of two sons, he and Nancy presented their family as a traditional unit.
In an impactful 2008 appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Thomas spoke about reproductive rights for transgender individuals, marking a pivotal moment in transgender visibility. Reflecting on his experience, Thomas noted that his story was groundbreaking at a time when few understood transgender identities. Despite the challenges, he expressed no regrets about his journey.
