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 become pregnant. Born female, he transitioned to a transgender man and gained global attention when he gave birth to his daughter, Susan, despite facing severe backlash, including death threats.
Born Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino in 1974 in Hawaii, Thomas began identifying as a boy at age ten and started testosterone therapy at 23. He pursued modeling and excelled in martial arts, even earning a championship in Taekwondo. In 2002, he underwent chest surgery and legally changed his gender marker, but chose to keep his female reproductive organs.
In 2006, Thomas stopped testosterone treatment to conceive after facing fertility challenges with his then-wife, Nancy. His pregnancy became public in 2008, sparking worldwide media coverage. However, he also encountered discrimination from medical professionals and public backlash.
Despite these challenges, Thomas successfully gave birth to Susan after a natural labor. Over the next five years, he experienced four more pregnancies. His story was shared in a landmark interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008, where he advocated for reproductive rights for all, regardless of gender identity. Today, Thomas continues to embrace his journey, now a father of three.
