This story is truly amazing. 
Thomas Beatie, a transgender man, has decided to carry his child. He is quoted in a recent column as saying, "Wanting to have a biological child is neither a male nor female desire, but a human desire."
Beatie is transgender, legally male, and legally married to his wife Nancy. His wife had undergone a hysterectomy and was unable to carry a child, so Beatie stopped taking his testosterone injections and got pregnant.
The situation has sparked legal, political, and social opposition. The couple has been turned away from doctors due to religious objections. Even family and friends have abandoned them, with Beatie's brother even telling him after his first pregnancy turned out ectopic, "It's a good thing that happened. Who knows what kind of monster it would have been."
But this amazing man has kept an incredible outlook, saying:
How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Incredible. Despite the fact that my belly is growing with a new life inside me, I am stable and confident being the man that I am... I will be my daughter's father, and Nancy will be her mother. We will be a family.
I applaud Beatie and his wife. They are defining for themselves what is "normal" and doing what they must to have a family.
This once again shows that our community knows better than anyone what family means. We can truly lead the way in our society, breaking down gender barriers and making it safer for every type of family.
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9 Comments
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Thomas is very brave. I can't imagine any transsexual stopping hormone therapy for any reason except this one. A very brave and selfless act of love...
jerindc | March 23, 2008 10:18 AM
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Wow!
Serena Freewomyn | March 23, 2008 12:23 PM
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I am dumbfounded. I don't know what to say. This has to be a one in a bazillion experience.
Bil Browning | March 23, 2008 12:48 PM
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Several of my transmale friends have stated a similar interest. But yes, I imagine it must take a lot of courage. Congratulations to Thomas and his family!
My opinion regarding doctors who refuse to treat patients in need: they should have their medical licenses rescinded. Even if they have moral objections to what Thomas is doing, they should still see that his child gets appropriate care. I guess it's just another example of hypocrisy in action.
Angel | March 23, 2008 2:53 PM
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Why would his child be a "monster"?
The stupidity of some people is almost tragic.
diddlygrl | March 23, 2008 3:05 PM
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Bil, it's rare but not unheard of. IIRC, in "Becoming a Visible Man" Jamison Green mentioned someone else doing the same thing, and I think I've heard of others as well.
Definitely a brave act of love, and I agree doctors who refuse to treat patients in need ought to get their licenses yanked.
Lena Dahlstrom | March 23, 2008 11:28 PM
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I think we are going to send someone to do an interview.... what to collaborate?
Paula Brooks | March 24, 2008 9:38 AM
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Patrick Califia's partner, who is also trans, had a baby several years ago, and Patrick wrote about it extensively. I guess I'm a bit annoyed by the way the media--including some of the queer media!--is responding to this. Why is this 'amazing'? Trans folks have all sorts of desires (to parent, for example) that are not related to their gender identity. Duh.
mingusqcat | March 24, 2008 11:09 AM
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I know of a trans man/trans woman couple in the U.K. in which the man was pregnant. I haven't heard much about it recently, but originally the story was that they were being filmed for a TV (no, silly, television, not the other "TV") documentary.
Abby | March 25, 2008 12:55 PM
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