Thomas Beatie made global history 16 years ago as the first legally recognized man to give birth. Born female in Hawaii in 1974, he transitioned, began testosterone therapy, and later chose to pause it in order to conceive, while still retaining his reproductive organs. In 2008, he gave birth to his first child, Susan, a moment that drew worldwide attention and intense backlash, including threats and discrimination.
Despite the controversy, Beatie and his then-wife Nancy went on to raise three children and appear in major media, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he spoke about reproductive rights and gender identity. Over time, he expanded his family further and later remarried Amber, settling into a quieter life in Oregon.
Today, Beatie works as a stockbroker, occasionally does public speaking and acting, and continues to reflect on how his story helped introduce many people to transgender parenthood and fertility rights.
