People need an anatomy lesson. I’ve seen versions of this story that say this guy still has female genitalia and still has a vagina, implying that this is the only reason he was able to be pregnant. Last time I checked, a baby is gestated in an organ called a uterus, or womb, as the old schoolers call it. I know the vatgina leads to the uterus, but a child grows in the uterus. So the dude still has a uterus, as opposed to other transsexuals who have hysterectomies upon gender reassignment. I really don’t care if my comment is irksome. I’m tired of intellectual laziness…

You might have seen such a version of that story on this very site:

“When his wife, Nancy, was unable to have children, Thomas, who still has female genitalia, decided he’d carry their baby himself.”

I think one of the messages in this story is that the fact that Mr. Beatie still has a uterus isn’t what’s defining his gender.

I think its awesome. I find it amazing and fascinating that people are willing to do so much (even to blur the line of gender identity) for the sake of love. Mr.Beatie is to be commended.

Crazy! That is awesome that a male is stepping up to the plate!
but it’s sad that people are discriminating against him.

stop taking our jobs!

Seahorse FTW!

The article claims that he will be the “first pregnant man.” To make such an assertion robs other transmen of their experiences… in fact, many FTM’s have given birth to children, some publicly and some privately. An almost Universal commonality has been the discrimination they have encountered from “service providers.” One can only hope that more and more trans people feel liberated to create their families in the ways we are able… as doctors see that our children are as likely to be happy and healthy as any child born into and raised in a “traditional” household is, they will come to realize that love truly does make a family.

What I do think is great has been the way the stories about THIS pregnant man have been written. No one has called his identity into question, which gives me hope for further positive media portrayals of trans people as diverse, complicated people… just like everyone else!

Mommy, where do babies come from?

what a lovely story. thanks for posting.

@ pillarofsalt: I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I though so too. It might have made me tear up a little, especially “We will be a family.”

It’s not a man. This isn’t the world’s first Male Pregnancy. It’s confusing at best for everyone. I’m not trying to deny anyone’s right to call themself what they want, but let’s be accurate when reporting. Men don’t have a uterus.

I’m male. I have XY chromosomes and lack both a vagina and a uterus. To say this is the first “Male Pregnancy” is disingenuous at best.

I fully support the individuals in question and their pursuit of happiness, as I hope they would do for me. However, until a person with testicles and not ovaries carries a child inside them, it’s not a “male being pregnant”. Indeed, possessing XX chromosomes but declaring to the world a male identity is definitely a boundary-breaking endeavor in today’s world. Having XX chromosomes and bearing a live child is not.

I wish the best for the family, I’m just disappointed in how this story is written. I was sucked in by the headline which promises “XY chromosome person carries baby”, but doesn’t deliver because that’s not what’s happening. This article is about the place of gender identity in society, but drops the ball.

What a great story. Bravo.

It really is more about the difficulties of not fitting into traditional societal gender roles and the ignorant reaction of so many at all levels…especially human services/health workers…making us even more ashamed of our healthcare system…

So brave to do that. So beautiful. What a lesson in parenting. More power to them.

After reading this story, you can’t deny the issues such as discrimination, arguments of gender definition, and even those claiming to be the “first” like it’s some P*r*z Hilton post.

But to me, I can’t help but see this as a tremendous love story. Two people wanting to love and care for a child is admirable and beautiful. Best wishes to them!

Alex, thanks for this moving story.

i think that it is crazy but yet amazing. but wat will you do wen you r 8 months ang walking in the store? and please say you r considering a c section.

whos the sperm from?

I’m confused. The article says this woman had sex reassignment surgery. With female genitals and a womb—what surgery took place? Also, what chromosomes does this person have? There are many variations and not all people are genetically distinctly either male or female and their genitals vary. Since she wasn’t born male then this article can’t really call her male. She/he might have truly been born genetically ambiguous in which case a pregnancy would make for interesting reading indeed. That would be unique, but a person who is genetically and physically clearly female, though calling themselves male and having a baby is not unique or all that impressive. It’s another aberration in our corrupt society.

Congrats and good luck with the soon to be baby! It really shouldn’t matter how a baby comes into the world as long as it is wanted and loved! Good for you for having the courage to do what you need to do to add to your family, no matter what anyone says or thinks! I wish you all the best!

Though technically he isnt a male im really curious on how someone has sexual reassignment surgery and keeps the vagina? thats just odd..does it make him a hermaphrodite? anywho blessings to Mr.Beatie and his wife and little girl. May all be well. I think its a wonderful thing and a step in the right direction. there was many time when I told my husband “you won’t know what is pain till you experience childbirth..haha.

Congratulations to the expecting parents. I wish you nothing but happiness and bliss. Your child is luck to have loving parents.

As to the questions about surgery. As Thomas stated, he opted to have “top surgery” (removal of breast tissue or chest reconstruction surgery) and not “bottom surgery” (removal of internal genitalia and/or external genitalia reconstruction).

I figured I would answer the question as, I am guessing, the parents may be busy with a pregnancy on their hands. :)

Congrats again!
Jess

Amazing story. Congratulations. I am a male and think that it would be amazing to experience this. If sex was not a requirement I’m sure that a lot of men would choose to carry at least one of their children.

So. Its a woman that wanted to be a man having a baby? That’s not amazing to me. I could see if this was a real man. But its not. Its a confused woman. So..really..its just a woman that looks like a man having a baby.

But something occurred to me. The fact that this he is really a she means that its “wife” is something of a lesbian. Technically.

But yeah…gender is defined by genitalia not by how a person looks. So yes..this is just a woman having a baby..and she happens to be married to another woman.

Its kinda sick and twisted and shows the world we’re living in today is going to end soon..but otherwise..its just a lesbian woman having a baby.

Wait, you mean he is a MAN, not male. Male is a biological term. MAN is social.

That aside… This is awesome. Who’s Your Daddy?

If the child is wanted, loved, what difference does it make which car he or she travelled in to get here?

A missed point not mentioned in the discrimination aspect point of view.

I work in the Healthcare Information Technology. Medicaid claims were one of the systems. In these claims systems, there are several gender specific procedures. I.e. a doctor submitting a prostate exam for a woman would be a claim automatically rejected.

So is this couple being discriminated against or is the medical community just pursuing the path that they will get paid for.

As far as biology goes, the man is not a man. He’s a woman taking male hormones. He’s still XX. He’s still has a larger verbal path between the two brain hemisphere for more verbal conversation. He grew up as a girl. He probably never got in a fist fight and made friends with his enemy 5 minutes later. And, as girl, I sure there was days when she heard “I won’t play with you no more.” You know the typical head games girls play amongst each other. But, I could care less either way. Most FTM can successfully appear as a man.

The surgery was probably just the removal of the breasts. Lower half surgery for FTM is expensive. Moreover, they can’t create a functional penis. And there exist the possibility of loosing sexual functioning (pleasure) converting the females parts to look like male parts.

Thomas Beatie is gender hybrid, the way i see it. With the exception of what’s in his pants, his appearance (and demeanor, I’m sure) say Male. He even has a piece of paper confirming his male-ness, and i don’t begrudge him that at all.

What’s inside his pants (and body) state otherwise. He has a vagina, a uterus and is carrying a child. That makes part of him a woman.

I agree that claiming he’s the first man to have a baby is a stretch. Had he been born XY and managed to get pregnant, i would be the first to get in line to congratulate him - give the men a chance to carry the child for a change.

My question is, did these articles come up because of the descrimination or vice versa?

I read on a popular link site that when they were contacted about the vaildity of their claims, the wife said they couldn’t talk about it, but to check back in a week or so.

Isn’t a week or so April 1…?

Perfect! Now the men can start to learn just what we women go through!

I’d like to take him maternaty bra shopping….

As a man, I know how it feels. I mean, I gave birth to like 3 brown babies this morning, like I do every morning. Ahh, the relaxing feeling of giving birth… so wonderful! Especially after coffee.

That is going to be one confused kid…

“Yes… my daddy gave birth to me”.

What’ next? Is this dude going to breast feed too?

I support them, simple as that.
The family fundementals are in place, so who really cares how the baby arrives.
They clearly are a loving family, and will continue to be regardless, so I dont really care whats in between there legs!
Good for them!
Congratulations and goodluck!

This handsome woman is still a woman. She has two X chromosomes and all of the other thousands of genetic and biological traits to prove that fact. She just has a glob of skin and nerves grafted to the front of her pubis, which essentially just lets her orgasm a little differently; plus the thousands of milligrams of testosterone pills she probably has to take. She probably doesn’t have external female organs anymore, but her internal organs (and her internal mindset) is still that of a female. This is a lesbian couple. Nothing different or unique about it. They still needed a sperm donor. She’s a very mentally unstable woman who will one day probably just change her mind about wanting a penis anyway.

The Washington Post is reporting that it may be a hoax. Didn’t the Governator already try it or something?

Has anyone ever thought about saying ‘Live and let live”? Everyone is so quick to condemn this couple.
They bleed the same. They have emotions. They feel pain, frustration, anguish, happiness, joy and love. They pay taxes like everyone else. If you’re worried about the world that you know ending…that’s great, it should end. A world where tolerance and acceptance thrives would be refreshing for once. Who made you god to pass judgement on other people? Maleness & femininity is internal. Everyone has a soul and souls are spirit & energy. Bodies are just vessels. Just because you were born into a body that your soul loves doesnt mean that everyone is that lucky. We change our bodies to sync them with our souls/minds. I have never been a confused woman. I’ve always known I was a man inside. Others may not have been so lucky or to be born with the strength/stature of samoan blood. I’ve been lucky that most of the people I’ve know throughout my life have been accepting of me. I’m able to say that I have experienced the whole gamut of ‘maleness’. I played jv football, I took boxing, I went out with the dudes to strip clubs and now I’m going to start mixed martial arts training here in Brazil. So yeah I still have a vagina (which I hate to acknowledge and will not be missed) but thats changing as soon as I can come up with $150,000. I didnt do this to confuse people. I didnt start down this road because I’m confused. I knew that it would be hard. I knew that there would be opposition. I did this so I can live my life in accord to my belief of who I am inside. I did this because all I ever wanted to do was live life to its fullest and enjoy it.

WOW! way to go! i’m so happy that you’re pregnant! I don’t see why those doctors are not helping because of religon(yes i have bad spelling, i’m only 13) that religon must say that one of the 10 deadly sins is to touch a male sea hourse then, because they also carry the babies. i swear, why can’t some people axcept the fact that you’re pregnant. go and ask a kid about the age of 5 and see what they think, all kids at that age are so innocent and pure that they don’t judge by gender, race, or religon. those doctors could learn a thing or two from a little 5 year old.

Kudos to Sione M, well said.

He is NOT the world’s first pregnant man. There have been a number of transmen who have been pregnant and gave birth. One example is Matt Rice the former partner of Patrick Califia who gave birth to their son a number of years ago.

This person was actually born a woman and kept her female organs during gender reassignment. This person is only legally defined as male, Not physically, nor medically. There is a huge difference.

This is NOT a medically certifiable male giving birth, just a very confused and messed up female.

It is very sexy

whats wrong with you people? this is not normal. Its disturbing that people are in support of such weirdness. And no, im not some radical religo. I could care less, this is just gross and sad. Poor kid. “Mommy… er, daddy… where did I come from?” “You came from your daddies uterus honey”
wtf is wrong with this world man? Freaks like this should be exiled to there own island of freakdom.

cool this is the strangest news i’ve ever heard!!!!!! the first man pregnant wow i have to add it in my list of strangest news! and i want to say to oneback why if one thing is ina way it must be in that way? world is made to create different way to think

OMG :o THAT’S WRONG MAN WHAT’S UP WHIT THE WORLD PEOPLE ???:o THAT’S crazy

Let’s remember how this person was born. He was born a WOMAN. Aside of his personal choice to change how he looks to compliment how he feels. He IS indeed a WOMAN not a man.

I don’t know why ppl criticise?! I mean,there is so many screwed up families in this world and you think this is not normal? If he’s able to have a kid and start a family why not, after all all that matters is that the kid is loved and has a family.They will probably be better parents than 90% of “normal” ones.
First look at your own family before you start with stupid comments. I’m sure you’re not perfect either!

I remember reading in Discover or some other similar mag that the womb is quite adaptable and agressive, and there were other instances where a male had a womb transplanted to him and it quickly adapted developing connections for the blood and etc. If this were possible this would totally reshape the discussion of lesbian and gay couples and the issue about womens/mens natal health and abortion (ya just know that discussion would change drastically since men would know what pregnancy is like).

So, are all the testosterone injections she did going to affect her baby?

just wondering if the sperm was from the wife though?

She’s not a man. If the story were about a man who was born a man and who then got miraculously pregnant, then you can say a man got pregnant. But this is just a woman who’s pretending to be a man and who is now pregnant. You can fool people, but you can’t fool nature: If you are born with a uterus, with breasts, a vagina, hormones that govern female biological functions, etc., then no matter how much surgery you get, you are still just a woman getting pregnant (when you get pregnant).

YOU ARE ALL RETARDED!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS PSYCHO IS NOT A MAN… NOT A “HE”…. JUST A WACKO LESBIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m going to quote a famous man.

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

My first thought was-yuck. I am offended as a woman and also as a believer in God. I would not say I am closed minded…I believe these people are probably lovely human beings with kind hearts who feel they have a lot to give a child, but that is besides the point… it is so sad to see the way it is now acceptable to play God because of how politically correct society has gotten. I feel sad that the other woman was not able to have children naturally, and that’s where it becomes tricky…I just can’t get my head around how wrong this is…and I am not afraid to say it.

hermaphrodite baby!!!!!!!!!

You know what, I can’t have children either but you don’t see me aaking my husband to carry a child for me. We are doing what should be done, treatment options, then adoption if that doesn’t work. I agree with a lot of people on here, they are basically two lesbian women having a child. I have no problem with that. However, since this person is still technically a woman….where did the sperm come from? That’s what I would like to know.

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I must say, Congrats to be the first for the future

First of all MEN do not get pregnant. She is still a woman with a few cosmetic changes and a few thousand milligrams of testosterone pumping through her veins. That does not make her a man. She was born woman and no matter what surgery you go through and while you may not feel that you are a woman deep down or vice versa…. Thats what you were born its what GOD wanted and it’s what you will be until you pass away, maybe then if theres reincarnation you’ll come back as the man you thought you were. have the surgeries, your still going to be what you were born as.

I found this through the Offbeat blog which is calling it the first “legally male pregnancy ever.” Can you be legally male if you do not have your twig n berries?

exactly, she is not a male, she doesn’t have a dick and balls (to put it blunt), sorry, she may feel like she’s are a male, but she isn’t

so there is no he’s pregnant

no big news

Every human being in the world is unique. There is no person like another. We all try to fit into social schemes and paradigms according to whatever culture or society we live in. But all forms of life have their dignity. Judging diversity is like judging life itself…. of course it’s everyone’s responsibility to direct our “uniqueness” in a positive direction in order to create value for oneself and for others. That said… good luck to everyone… :)

Ummmm - is this news? Or is this akin to a car crash and we are all sowing down to watch? Woman has sex change to look male - but is chromosonally female. Becomes because of a quirk of our weird outdated religious infused laws a man (because you have to be ONE or the OTHER) (Even though nature says different)… basically you have to make people “comfortable”… then the new “he” marries a “she” and they have a baby that the former she now physically appearing to be a “he” is having a baby.

Whats the difference between this and a woman with a full masectomy having a child? Where is the news here?

He is no man but a SHE….end of story.

What a scam

and

they post a photoshopped pic to boot!

HE IS NOT A MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peolple hello!!!!!!!!!! SHE IS A FEMALE nomatter sex change .GOD!!!!! made her a woman that is the truth!!!!!!!!!That is what everyone should go by! what GOD made her. wich is a FEMALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am noone to Judge her, But God of Course will judge her One day!

This story is interesting but not really because of the people involved, because as it was stated this has happened before in less reported cases. It is interesting in what it unearths in all of us. I felt so resolute in how I felt as I’m sure many people did when the posted comments. How strange it is to read though what others are feeling. This story obviously displays a strong societal misunderstanding of transgenders and why they make the changes they make. More than that though it unearths fear in truly evaluating gender identity in our culture and fear of gay families. And possibly the greatest fear, that science is allowing things to happen that we don’t like and that we can’t control. Remember how people originally felt about the concept of a surrogate to begin with?

No problem with their genders, etc. I commend their courage and strength to go for what they want and believe. That is why this is a free country.
I just want to say, medically, He is a woman still, as He has a Uterus. Let’s remember that and stop saying first pregnant Man. Maybe first pregnant transgender Man is more appropriate?

Um, how is “he” going to give birth? with a sex change doesn’t “he” have a male organ still? Or did “he” keep every female part “he” was born with? sounds painful.

LOL, How pathetic. Tell her to live with what she was given. what a joke.

Well, lets first start out that I am naturally female and heterosexual who is married and has several gay/lesbian familial relations, in fact one of my best friends is gay. Not only is one of my best friends gay but he was also raised by a same sex couple and I have often heard of how hard it has been for him growing up with his mother being in a same sex relationship- from society’s view that is. But feel that if you change your sex from the sex you were born with, you should stick to the new role of the sex you chose. Sociologically speaking, having a child and thus taking on a female role after becoming legally a male, is too much of a strain on the roles of one’s master or achieved status- either you are male or your not. Think of how the child will feel, when he or she is confronted with society learning of it’s conception- and lets be honest not many people are going to not have a bit of trouble understanding his or her familial situation. Its hard enough being raised by a same sex couple, but imagine trying to tell the child “No, honey, mommy didnt have you, your daddy did.” Think about it.

I don’t have a problem with the idea that he is giving birth, I do however have a difficult time understanding how he is legally a male while still having female genetalia. If a male had brest implants but kept his penis, whould that make him legally female? I don’t see how lack of breasts and facial hair make a woman a man. To me it is about the genetalia.

Weather or not you believe in God, there is no denying that this “person” was born with all the anatomy of a “woman”. Yet she feels more comfortable being a man. It is not for us to judge what she/he is, but considering she/he was born with all the mechanics to carry a child (unlike born male members), I do not consider this the first “man” or “male” to have a child. I don’t even think her/his ID/License should say male until the whole process was finished. I do think it is great that she/he is going to give birth for her/his life partner. Let’s get real people this is “NOT” the 1st “man” to give birth to a child. That has yet to happen.

Dear Thomas and family!

I wish you the best and I hope everythings is gonna fine.

Yours,

Thomas from Austria

For gods sake get over the god bothering Amercia!

uneducated morons, the rest of the the world is sick of you bringing your fairytale figures into debates

These people need to think about the childs future. This is in the news this child will hear about this when it gets older. Kids can be mean and tough on other children. I feel sorry for this child in 13-15 years. Also this is so wrong in so many ways I honestly think that this is going against God in so many ways. If he/she wanted to have kids then he should have stayed female. I don’t blame doctors I wouldn’t want to treat this patient either

1.) Congratulations to the happy family expecting a child!! A child is a wonderful thing!

2.) To all those people who have to insult Thomas and his family, GET OVER IT!! This is the new millenium, not the 1800’s!! We are who we are, INSIDE, doesn’t matter what we look like on the outside! Its who we are inside that counts. Who cares what “GOD” supposedly wrote hundreds of years ago!! Times change!! People need to change their thinking with the changing times.

3.) For Maria saying kids are cruel. Yes, I agree kids are cruel, HOWEVER, we as parents, CAN’T STOP OUR CHILDREN FROM GETTING RIDICULED OR LAUGHED AT!! Thats just the way kids are. We can’t stop our kids from making mistakes. We can’t stop them from laughing at other kids/people. We can GUIDE them, and teach them not to, however, they make their own decisions. That also means we can’t stop our kids from getting laughed at. We’d have to be with them every minute of everyday, all day at school and everywhere and cover their ears to do that. Then they would get laughed at for having their parents with them 24-7. Its just not possible. So what if its going against YOUR “God” in so many ways? Thats you, and your beliefs, which you are entitled to, however, maybe Thomas and his wife don’t believe in the same “God” as you. There are many belief systems out there, which means there are many “Gods” out there. Who says just one of them is right? They can all be right. The bible was written hundreds and thousands of years ago, so what may have been right then, doesn’t make it right now. I think doctors not wanting to treat him is wrong, and against the code, or should be anyway. Thats like police refusing to arrest someone due to religious beliefs. Yet that person could kill thousands of people, just because the police refused to arrest him. Who are YOU, or THEY to what is right and what is wrong? What makes “God” right? Just because “Jesus Christ” “supposedly” died for OUR sins, doesn’t that take away OUR responsibility for our wrongs? When we do something wrong, we have to take responsibility for it, to better the situation or ourselves. Well, “Jesus Christ” is saying that we don’t have to because he did it for us… NO way.I take FULL responsibility for my actions and my words, and I am not going to let anyone take that away from me. That is the mature and adult thing to do. If I do something wrong, I WILL fix it and make it better, not “God” or “Jesus Christ” or anyone else. ME. Thomas is taking responsibility in the only way he knows how, for his situation. His choice. No one else’s. His life. So you and these doctors would let this child suffer more, and let Thomas suffer more, by NOT TREATING HIM?? Due to something so trivial and small as RELIGIOUS beliefs????!!!! I think thats more wrong than Thomas deciding to have the baby because his wife couldn’t.

This isn’t a MAN having a child, it’s a woman. She may LOOK like a man but she has ovaries and an uterus. I wish the media wouldn’t make a huge deal out of this, spouting off immediately that about a “pregnant man” because it’s incorrect. This is a pregnant WOMAN who just happens to be on hormone therapy to look like a man.

Wow, this issue does raise a whole lot of comments! Well technically, he is still female. His genes are female and his genitalia is. That he is without breast and has facial hair… Well I am sorry, but I know some women that (unfortunately) have facial hair and they are not male in any way. What if such a person (lilke a bearded woman) would have had mastectomy (removal of breasts due to breast cancer) And since a woman who had breast cancer often has anti-estrogen (a female hormone that promotes/causes breast cancer) therapy, making her less feminine and could cause facial hair growth. Should we consider a woman who lost her breasts to cancer is now a male??? This person Thomas Beatie is a female and a sick one. I thought that a thourough mental/psychiatric evaluation had to be performed before any transgender operation and hormonal treatments could begin. Whomever did that evaluation and gave it a go should be ashamed of him/herself! I think that people in general are going too far to have children… the flesh of our flesh… I am not a great believer and don’t want to impose my views but I think that nothing happens without a reason. If life gave us a challenge, then it has a purpose for our growth and our passage in this life. Everyone have their own challenges, each are different but are making us grow. I recently heard a woman going through breast cancer and saying that this is the best thing that could ever had happenned to her! Yes, indeed. As it made her and her loved ones have a reflection that changed their views on life. They feel they can now enjoy life fuller and are much happier and they no longer get upset on daily hassles. It changed their perspective of live and for such, for them, was a blessing. Instead of spending hard-earned money$ on trying to conceive (by the way noone should ever try to conceive, just be in love and let nature take its course). The money they spent could have been given to a charitable organization, for example to help children in need, or pay for their child’s education. If you love children that much I don’t think it should mater if it’s yours you’re taking care of, or giving a privilegiate chance to a child in need. My mother’s husband and my boyfriend have been adopted and are now doing well. I have much greater respect for those who take on the challenge of adopting and taking care of someone else’s child. This is what the essence of parenting is… Giving, loving, rather than having the selfish thought and behaviour “I want a child”. There are children out there that are already born and that need loving caring parents. One question… is his wife a lesbian? Well since her husband has the feminine genitalia… So they should be considered a lesbian couple, with him being barely a transvestite. I think social services should take the child away. A person that is ambiguous and uncetain him/herself about her identity should not be raising a child. Had it been a boy, would you see… “How come daddy’s genitals are like this, but mine is like that???. A confused child I’d say. And when having sexual education classes… And on the birth certificate, what will be written, who is the mother, who is the father, will it be “carrying mother # 1” and “mother # 2”. I repeat myself again, this couple is ill and should have a mandatory psychiatric and social evaluation. As well, what was the need to alert the media? I think they just want to be famous and make money out of it… possibly to pay for the expenses. I think this whole circus can only be maleficient to this child. The decision of this couple was not made in the child’s welfare’s best interest. Good luck to this baby anyways. When the baby turn out to have mental disease or to attempt suicide or to be dependant on alcohol or drugs, I will not wonder why. Poor child.

if their baby ends up trying to commit suicide, you won’t wonder why because it’s ignorant people like the ones against this that will be the ones who caused it! the article is perfectly clear about Thomas Beatie’s anatomy. He says he only had surgery to remove his breasts and was receiving testosterone prescriptions. That’s it. So he can carry a child. Why wouldn’t he be physically able to? A baby doesn’t develop in the breasts people! ..the article is written by him…don’t you think he knows what the hell he’s talking about? The medical processes that a transgender person choose to go through are not as simple as people may think.
I think this is an amazing story…a breath of fresh air in our culture and evidence of progress in society. Who cares if you personally don’t agree with it? It isn’t going to go away. Thomas Beatie’s decision to do this for his family is the most selfless act. Because he’s transgender, female to male, the last thing on his wishlist is to menstruate or become pregnate! The most amazing thing he wrote was, “Wanting to have a biological child is neither a male nor female desire, but a human desire.” Whether or not you want to admit it, everyone has to agree with this.

After reading several of these comments, I think it is important to note sevaral things.

First of all, just because a person is born with certain biological features, doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with their gender.

Words like “he” and “she” are words that denote gender, not sex. Similarly, words such as “man” and “woman” also denote gender

In this way, Thomas is obviously a man, and should be referred to with male pronouns, because these words are in line with his gender identity. It is a matter of respect to refer to him as such. There is absolutely no reason why using a certain pronoun necessarily implies anything about a person’s biology.

With this in mind, the title of this article “Meet Thomas Beatie. He’s pregnant” doesn’t imply anything about his chromosomes, or his reproductive organs. It simply and clearly states that it will be an interesting article about a pregnant man (again, a word referencing gender, not sex).

So the arguments claiming that this article is a “lie” because Thomas doesn’t have what are considered, in western society, to be male characteristics (testicles and xy chromosomes) are flawed because the article explains very clearly that Beatie is a man that was assigned female at birth, and is legally considered male. Legal definitions of sex are different from other definitions of sex, and, since they differ from place to place, shine light on the fact that not only is gender socially constructed and dependent on definitions defined by culture, society, and historical context, but sex is as well.

Think about it this way, sex could be defined by chromosomes, reproductive organs (which could be subcategorized, since not everyone has what are considered to be consistent reprodcutive biology), physical characteristics, or, really, almost any other factor.

In this way, sex is actually an idea that isn’t as set in stone as many people believe.

Ultimately, then, I would argue that gender matters not so that we can divide, separate, and categorize, but because there is a huge diversity of gender expression and identity, and it is important to affirm these identities. Because of this, also, saying that a transgender person should act in a way in correspondence with their gender identity is ridiculous.

This promotes the also inaccurate idea of a gender binary; that there are only two sexes and two genders that correspond neatly with one another. No person fits into these normative constructions because they defy physical biological facts of the diversity of human bodies, as well as the fact that human gender expression is as varied as there are humans.

Obviously Beatie is acting in a way in correspondence with his identity as a man. Why can’t a man be both a father and be pregnant? Pregnancy, although in most cases, is carried out by women who identify as such, but this is not always the case, and we should be open to the fact that some men undergo this experience as well.

Additionally, calling Beatie by pronouns associated with women is not only offensive to Beatie, but disrespectful to women’s identities because such an argument essentializes the experience of womanhood by implying that women are no more than the fact that they were born with certain biological criteria.

These comments are meant to be read with an open mind, and possibly slowly because it’s not easy for some people to get past the limited idea of a gender binary.

Once you do, however, you’ll notice how freeing it is for everyone of all genders because gender expression need not be so restricted.

Additionally, claims that this child will be in any way psychologically damaged up need to be challenged.

Children that are raised with love are better off than children that are raised without it.

Love is important not only directed to that child, but living in an environment that hates groups of people (transgender people, gay and lesbian, people, etcetara) is also stagnating to a developing person.

I would argue that this child will be well cared for and, yes, loved by their parents, and, because of the struggles they have overcome, will raise that child with a lot of insight. I don’t believe that being transgender is a stuggle in and of itself, but because of social issues, as evidenced in the ideology of some of the comments in this thread, that transgender people face, overcoming struggles are always associated with it.

first of all, this man has a vagina! men,or shall i rephrase, the “male species” cannot carry a child. duh! everyone knows that. thats why everyone is being thrown for a loop. this whole article is misleading. when you read,”meet thomas beatie, he is pregnant, we are all expecting him to have a penis.basiclly yes, they are a lesbian couple having a child. why is this such a big deal?do other lesbian couples make such a big deal out of raising a child? if you do not like the attention you are receiving ,you shouldnt have brought it to everyones attention. no ones being discriminative, its just a LITTLE WIERD!

WE MUST ALL BE FRANK TO OUR SELVES AND GO BACK TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE WHOLE THING. THIS PERSON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN REALITY IS NOT A man IN THE FIRST PLACE. NO MAN WILL EVER BE ABLE TO CARRY A BABY. THIS IS JUST A CRAZY WOMAN WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS. NO ONE SHOULD CALL HER a him SHE IS A she. SHE CAN NEVER BE A MAN. she is a woman forever no matter those fake thing she does to her self to become a man.

We grow up learning & knowing that GOD is omnipotent, all loving, all encompassing, kind and compassionate to ALL souls. Where does it say that he will not love people such as Thomas & family? Can you HONESTLY say that GOD would be as unforgiving & judgemental as you all? I don’t think so. To verbally abuse and promote violence and hate is what is disgusting! That isn’t very godlike isnt it? I WOULD RATHER BE A OPEN SINNER THAN A FALSE SAINT LIKE YOU ACCUSING LOT! IMAGINE DENYING HUMANS HEALTH CARE, THE RIGHT TO LIVE, ACCEPTANCE all because your cock and puss issues. SO WHAT! THEY’RE HUMAN! H-U-M-A-N last time I checked we’re all in this world together. Come on people buck up, stop hiding behind the good book and help one another. I WAS BORN A MAN (with cock and balls for the genitally obsessed). I’M BLESSED TO HAVE WONDERFUL WIFE AND TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. I’M A DEVOUT EPISCOPALIAN. I AND MY FAMILY WILL NEVER HAVE THE AUDACITY TO TURN ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AWAY OR RUN THEM DOWN. DO UNTO OTHERS AND YOU WOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU!!! Or have you forgotten that?

WHO GIVES A F**K HONESTLY? LIVE AND LET LIVE. DID THEY F**K WITH YOUR LIFE IN ANYWAY? WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO CONFORM TO YOUR IDEALS, BELIEFS AND OPINIONS? I GUESS YOU MUST BE GOD. AND IF THATS TRUE THEN EVERYTHING WE LEARNED IN SCHOOL MUST BE FALSE. YOU AREN’T VERY KIND ARE YOU? YOU’RE CLOSE MINDED, NOT LOVING AT ALL AND COMPLETE IDIOTS. UGLY, UGLY AMERICANS OR AMERICAN WANNA BE’S. NO WONDER THE REST OF THE WORLD LAUGHS AT AMERICANS TOO BUSY FIGHTING WITHIN TO HEAL THE WORLD. HEAL YOURSELF, HEAL OTHERS, PROMOTE LOVE & LAUGHTER. EVERYONE HAS A SOUL. DON’T LET YOURS GO DARK! BODIES ARE NOT FOREVER! SOULS ARE!

I think it’s great! Why should there be a problem, it’s just a couple having a child. Why should it matter ho is carring the baby, as long as the child has a loving mam and dad!!!!

Mr Beatie is not a man, is a girls that is why she can be pregnant, the only problem here is that she is a sick woman thinking that is really a man.
This is simple sick.

God created man and woman, not this!

CONFUSED OR OTHERWISE. THEY ARE STILL HUMAN. GOD CREATED MEN AND WOMAN IN HIS LIKENESS….SO IN ALL RATIONALE GOD SHOULD BE BOTH MALE AND FEMALE COMBINED. TRY ARGUING THAT ONE. MINDLESS FOLLOWERS!
SICK IS DENYING SOMEONE HUMAN RIGHTS BASED ON APPEARANCE AND PERSONAL OPINION. SICK IS PASSING JUDGEMENT WHEN YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR YOU CONDESCENDING AHOLES. SICK IS HIDING BEHIND GOD WHEN YOU DO NOT ADHERE TO THE HOLY BOOK YOURSELVES…YOU ALL PASS JUDGEMENT, YOU ALL PUT YOURSELVES BEFORE GOD, YOU PROMOTE HATE, YOU DO NOT LIVE BY DOING UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU. FYI — KARMA IS A CIRCLE WHAT YOU PUT OUT YOU’LL RECIEVE BACK IT IS INEVITABLE. TSK TSK TSK. WWJD?

What r u going to have c-section or natural birth?

Who’s the Babies daddy, and Nancy supposed to be called who?

Petra what if they break-up because this is love by then any time they can!

I couldn’t be bothered to read through all the ignorance in these postings. If you are patient enough to get down this far, kudos.

If you have never heard the word TRANSGENDER or if you think it’s some freakish thing to be covered by tabloids, do us all a favor and pick up a book or your computer and EDUCATE YOURSELF. This couple is risking everything because in this world ignorance speaks louder than truth. Anyone criticizing this man and challenging his identity is buying into a society that applauds secrecy, hatred and shame.

Also, this is NOT the first transman to be pregnant and bear a child. And if you’re going to ask questions like “how can he be legally male if he still has a uterus” or make rash statements like “1000 of mg of testosterone pumping into his body”, call a Blue Cross/Blue Shield nurse line and GET A REAL EDUCATION!

What David and Emma said — thank you for updating the loudly religious ones commenting here. People are hiding behind Jesus while shouting hate, and it’s just sad.

Okay, for all those who are going on about “But! But! But! A man has a penis and a woman has a vagina and so there’s no male being pregnant and this is silly… blah blah blah…”

There is more to gender than whether one’s genitals are innie or outtie, m’kay? Mr. Beatie is a man, in that that is who he is. When you meet someone and they tell you their name, do you say, “Wait? That name sounds male. Please drop your pants so I can check.” If you do run around asking to check, you’ve probably had some problems with that.

All this born-woman and born-man stuff is really tired. Yes, the fact that a person with a uterus is carrying a baby is not news. The fact that a transman is carrying a baby and talking to the news, that’s news. The healthcare questions and the social issues of dealing with people in our society, that’s news.

So for the love of God, if you are so obsessed with genitalia that the actual point of this news piece — that a transman and his wife are talking about having a kid [CONGRATS!] and sharing their experience — stop commenting already. If you fascination with pee-pees and vajayjays is so intense you cannot comprehend this little bit of narrative, go read a biology book or watch porn or whatever you must do to get it out of your system, and come back when you can contemplate the issues without going all “OMG! BUT NO TWIG ‘N’ BERRIES! VAGINAS!”

I wouldn’t really say “poor baby” but rather, poor society we live in. If it weren’t for people’s prejudice this baby and this family would have their own respected place in the world. If we took the dignity of life as a starting point, definitions would come a lot easier and there would be room and space for everyone.

what an abomination……………..remember the written word of God……………read it.

They are so many woman that treat their children like beasts, that they dont deserve to be call a mother, less to have the oportunity to bring a child to the world. I think that nature is wise and I admire this family to have the corage to go, and I hope everyhting goes fine for the baby, his father and mother.

I think that it is great that he is carrying their child, but it is a false statement to call him the first pregnant male, because males do not have wounds therefor a MAN cannot carry a baby. If a male could take on that task for nine months, my husband would be carrying our next one.

She is not a transgender. She kept her womenly parts which mean is a woman that looks like a man that is pregnant. A man without a uterus can not have a baby so. This person is a woman that is just a lesbian. If you don’t like the truth don’t put your pregnancy to be so public. Prrrrraa

Ok… When you paint your hair red, you are red-haired, if you paint it yellow, you`re blond.. If thomas feels like a man, who are the rest of the world´s people to say he is not.
You are not what the world say you are, you are what your SOUL says…

Congratulations to the new familiy…..

I find it fascinating and amazing. It is a noble thing for him to carry a child since his wife couldnt, despite the fact that many people around him didnt even know he was transgender. live and let live. He is bringing a child into this world with love and care and I can guarantee that he they would give this child a better life than the crackheads, or the little 14 yr olds that are having children nowadays.! He HAS a vagina and a uterus. just visually he is male… I say the best of luck to this family. God is more worried about people judging than he is of this one couple that is going through this. Many couples have done the same thing and this one is the frist to speak out on it. kudos to you for being so brave. children are blessings. Best of luck

yeah!! kongratulations

this’slove

good 4u!

congrates! hop you the best! and im so amazed in this story and so intrested! would you ever let the baby no wat happen and do you think that it would be a good idia! well god bless and take it easy!=]

I had a baby when i just turned 16 years old. My family thought this was the worst thing in the world for a 16 year old to get pregnant. they came around, but when they found out about a man being pregnant, i thought that they were going to judge.
Im glad they didnt. They asked me what i thought about this. i said “i think its amazing what he did for his wife. Knowing he is going to get discriminated by alot of people and still doing it to bring a piece of himself and his wife into the world.” I think its an amazing and thoughtful thing u did beatie, nurture that baby well, and take care of the baby because a baby is a beautiful thing from u and your wife that is coming into the world, even if its coming in a strange, but unique and beautiful way. You have my support and my familys. Take good care!!!

This is disgusting. There is nothing amazing about any of this. It’s simply two dykes having a kid. Probably going to be a confused child in the long run, but hey, as long as two selfish people get what they want…who cares what the kid thinks. It’s stupid to call this amazing or a love story. It’s two disturbed chicks, one who took hormone pills to eventually grow a beard and had her tits cut off. UH, yeah??

Its a beautiful thing!! that is so amazing!! but they cant REALLY call him the first man to have a child, he is part woman!! ha ha ha. but its true!!

Bueno que pasa?. el mundo se esta volviendo loco que falta de principios, pobre niña creo que va a estar muy confundida…!!!

HOLY CRAP I JUST THREW UP IN MY MOUTH!!! I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS BUT WHEN U GO AND START CUTTING SHIT OFF AND TRYING TO SAY UR A MAN GET A REAL LIFE GIRL!!!!!! THIS CHILD WILL HAVE SEVERE MENTAL PROBLEMS

THIS IS SIIIIICK!

This is so beautiful it just touches my heart. It made me cry a little when they said he had surgery to make a wee-wee.

I want to join in with some posters above who said this is oh-so-beautiful.

Horray for the freak with both an outtie and an innie having a baby. Now let’s all hold hands and sing Kumbaya.

Disgusting, sick and totally wrong. Just another example of the complete and utter confusion of transgender people. You’re not a pregnant man, you’re a confused, sexually depraved woman who unfortunately is giving birth to an innocent child who didn’t ask to be born to such a disgusting couple of perverts. Its very sad that this poor child is going to be forced to call two sickos his or her “family”. I hope this child gets taken away ASAP and placed into a NORMAL, loving home, that means a father and a mother (sorry perverts!) and taken away forever from these two, who KNOWS what they will do to that poor child!! Sick sick sick!!

SHE IS A WOMAN! THEY ARE LESBIANS. THEY ARE MAD AND ARE PLAYING WITH A VERY IMPORTANT THING: THE LIFE OF A HUMAN BEING.

A FAMILY IS: A MAN, A WOMAN AND THEIR OWN CHILDREN. NOT THIS STRANGE AND DANGERUS THING YOU ARE DOING. IF YOU WANT A FAMILY BE NORMAL, IF NOT JUST BUY A PET.

PLEASE, TAKE CARE OF THAT GIRL.

now this is a real male pregnancy or bluff, hmmm.
http://www.malepregnancy.com/ check it out, this is weird

this dudes a freak. what the hell is wrong with people? this guy needs to be blackballed out of society.

First of all if u were born with a pussy, a vagina…u are a female.. u can get all the surgeries u want, all