Pregnant Man

Thomas Beatie — who became famous as the world's first pregnant man — talks about relocating his family to Phoenix and his relationship with the LGBT community.

By Glenn Gullickson

Labor of Love by Thomas Beatie

"Pregnant Man" makes a home with his family in Phoenix

After living in Arizona for a year, Thomas Beatie — who became famous worldwide as the "pregnant man" — said his family is feeling at home, but he said he's still estranged from the LGBT community.

"We've been assimilating pretty well," Beatie said about the move to a house in north Phoenix.

Beatie, who is female-to-male transgender, caused a sensation in 2008 when he announced that he was pregnant, then was recognized as the first married man to give birth. Since then he's had two more children.

Beatie said that while his story helped put female-to-male transgender on the map, the LGBT community has failed to embrace him. He said she's reached out to national organizations, but only found a handful of supportive individuals.

"Generally the LGBT community doesn't like me," Beatty said during a telephone interview. "The concept of a pregnant man was too much. They thought it didn't represent the community.

"The general consensus from the trans community is very critical," he said. "Our family has basically been blacklisted from the community."

Beatie said he's been the target of hate mail and Internet postings. He was critical of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against (GLAAD), which he said didn't come to his defense against attacks from conservative media when his story went public.

And while he's been interviewed by mainstream media luminaries like Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters, he said the LGBT media has kept its distance.

Originally from Hawaii, Beatie, 37, started hormone treatment and chest reconstruction in his 20s and legally became a man. In 2003, he married his wife, Nancy, who is originally from Phoenix.

Beatie said he and Nancy met 21 years ago. "She was there to support me during my transition," he said.

But Nancy is unable to have children. So since Beatie retained his female reproductive organs, he was able to interrupt testosterone treatments and be artificially inseminated. Beatie's first child, Susan, was followed by two sons, Austin in 2009 and Jensen last year.

"Most people think just because you have a sex change, you have to give up your ability to become pregnant," Beatie said. "Trans people are capable and fit to be parents. Trans people should have that option, that right, to have families. You can be who you want to be."

It's a message he promotes in his book, Labor of Love: The Story of One Man's Extraordinary Pregnancy, and during speaking engagements, usually overseas. Beatie said that in August he spoke at Stockholm Pride in Sweden.

Beatie said that he may have more children, denying media reports that he's considering having a hysterectomy, an operation he said he would consider if it's necessary for his health.

After he was recently featured on a local newscast, Beatie said the Phoenix chapter of the Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) contacted him. He said it's the first time an LGBT group in the U.S. has welcomed him.

But he's uncertain about making connections with local trans or other LGBT groups unless he's invited. "I pretty much go where people want to hear me," Beatie said.

Beatie and his family moved to Arizona from Bend, Ore., where they had lived for five years, and where all his children were born. Beatie said the intention was to make Phoenix a second home to be near members of Nancy's family, but financial setbacks caused them to give up the Bend house, so they're in Arizona year around.

Beatie had operated a T-shirt company, but he blamed prejudice for its demise. "Things started to decline after the pregnant man stuff came out," he said.

Now he's working on rebuilding his Internet business, Define Normal, which featured Pride-themed clothing. Noting that Arizona is "pretty much the T-shirt capital," Beatie said he's working on going mainstream with a line of urban wear.

Beatie said he had no reservations about relocating to a state with a conservative reputation. "Bend, Ore., is also pretty Republican," he said, noting that there are Christian conservatives among his friends.

Beatie said he's been keeping a low profile since settling into his house with a pool in a suburban development. But he said occasionally he gets recognized as the family works to get closer to others in the neighborhood.

Beatie said he's able to spend lots of time at home with his children. His daughter recently started pre-school and the younger two are in daycare.

He's also working on his second book, this one from the perspective of his wife, who works as a personal trainer. Beatie, who has a degree in health science, said he is involved in the martial arts.

Beatie said he's been approached to do reality television, even before Chaz Bono joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars. But since it's still in the talking stages, he declinied to say which program was interested in him. -E