Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made history as the first man to experience pregnancy, marking a groundbreaking moment in the world’s understanding of gender and parenthood.

Assigned female at birth, Thomas later transitioned and now lives as a transgender man. His journey captured global attention when he welcomed his first daughter, Susan, into the world.

However, his path was far from easy. The idea of a man giving birth sparked intense controversy, and Thomas received numerous death threats from those who opposed his story.

Despite the backlash, he has remained unwavering in embracing his true identity. Today, his family has grown beyond Susan—he is now a father to two sons as well.

With a total of three children, Thomas Beatie’s story continues to evolve….

Born in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas Beatie’s life journey would eventually capture global attention. From a young age, Thomas identified as a boy, and by 23, he had started testosterone therapy to align with his gender identity.

As a teenager, Thomas demonstrated ambition and talent. He worked as a model and even became a finalist in the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. He also excelled in martial arts, competing in karate and Taekwondo. His dedication paid off in 1992 when he won a junior Taekwondo championship at the Aloha State Games.

In 2002, Thomas took a significant step in his transition by undergoing chest surgery and updating his sex marker to “male” on both state and federal documents. However, he chose to keep his female reproductive organs, a decision that would become crucial to his story later on.

In 2006, with hopes of starting a family, Thomas paused his testosterone therapy. When his then-wife Nancy faced fertility struggles, Thomas made the bold choice to carry the child himself, a move that would make headlines around the world.