Once there was a man who got pregnant. How can that be you ask? He wasn't your everyday man, that's for sure. Excited yet? Well, he must've felt that way too, like many first-time dads, knowing his child was on the way. Then again, what he had gone through was quite different indeed, since he was the one physically pregnant.

You see, Thomas Beatie is a transgender man from the United States, who desperately wanted to have a family. And so he did, while also setting a precedent for something that had never happened until 10 years ago. He is a pioneer and a powerful voice for the LGBTQI+ community, and the story of his pregnancy turned the world upside down. Wait until you find out what he's up to now!

The 8-Month Pregnant Man Who Became An Overnight Media Sensation

When Thomas Beatie first appeared on national TV, he was already 8 months pregnant. The media went crazy, and they were hungry for details about the whole process that surrounded what was seemingly an impossible medical breakthrough.

He made all the headlines in important newspapers like the New York Times, People magazine, and many others. His case was a sensational, and regardless of how bizarre the situation seemed at the time, people couldn’t take their eyes off the unconventional family. That’s how he went on to appear in almost every popular talk show, from Letterman to Oprah.

He Gave Birth Three Times In A Row

Not only would Thomas give birth to one beautiful baby named Susan Juliette Beatie, but he would also welcome two more children after. He used the same donor for all the artificial inseminations because he and his then-wife wanted the children to share the same father.

In 2009, the family received their second bundle of joy, a boy named Austin Alexander Beatie. To the surprise of many in 2010, another boy arrived at the Beatie household when Jensen James Beatie was born. Thomas assured that his pregnancies had been completely normal, the only thing he wouldn’t be able to do is breastfeed his kids.

A Psychological Test Indicated He Was A Man

Thomas remembers starting feeling like a male as early as at 10 years old. After so many years of feeling inadequate, trying to have boyfriends, and pretending to be a “normal” girl, he decided he was going to stop conforming and accept who he truly was.

Sp he started hitting the gym. And as a girl, he would meet and fall in love with a woman there. This woman would be the one who would initially embark on this strange but rewarding journey with Thomas. A psychological assessment actually determined that he was in fact male, so he started testosterone injections as soon as the results came in.

SNL, South Park, And Celebrities Ridiculed Him

It’s no surprise that Beatie’s case caused so much controversy. However, some went even further than that. His decision started all sorts of debates on whether this should be accepted or not. When people rebel and refuse to stick to the status quo of society, there’s always resistance by the "old guard".

Thomas not only learned it firsthand, but he lived through it. He became the joke of TV shows like SNL and South Park. Famous people also made insensitive remarks, and he was then probably looking for an attorney when he started receiving hate mail and death threats. All because he was willing to do whatever it takes to become a father.

Thomas Was Once A Pageant Girl Named Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino

Before being Thomas, he was actually born as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was never interested in anything girly, but after his mother committed suicide, he had to stay under the sole custody of his father, who didn’t approve of his daughter’s boyish ways.

So Tracy, as he was known at the time, had to start wearing makeup and dresses. He even entered a teen beauty pageant just to please his father. Tracy also had multiple boyfriends, but he found he never enjoyed intimacy with any of them, merely tolerating the encounters.

His Gender Reassignment Surgery Was The Easy Part

In 2002, Beatie made the decision of taking a more definitive step, he went into the OR to undergo gender reassignment surgery. The procedure, known as top surgery or double mastectomy, was performed by famous gynecologist Marci Bower.

A transgender woman herself she specializes in the particularities of gender reassignment surgery. Thomas recalls the moment after the surgery like the best thing he’d ever felt in his life, feeling like a weight had been lifted from him. But despite having the surgery to reshape his chest to look more manly, he kept all his internal organs intact.

But The Changes In The Paperwork Were Hell

Transitioning is no easy process and it entails many difficult challenges that need to be overcome. Not only do these people have to go through puberty again, but they also have to deal with the reactions of those around them as well as their unwanted opinion.

On top of that, there are legal matters that need to be taken care of. Thomas had to officially change his name and other identification documents like his birth certificate, passport, and social security number at Hawaii’s Office Governor. Basically, Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino had to disappear from the books to make room for Thomas Trace Beatie.

He Married A Woman 10 Years Older Than Him

While training hard at the gym, he met a former bodybuilder who was ten years older than him. Her name was Nancy. When they first met, he hadn’t started the transition yet, but they began dating anyway as a gay couple.

With her support, Thomas eventually dared to start transitioning. After having his surgery and sorting out all of his paperwork, he legally married Nancy Gillespie in Hawaii in what was considered for all intents and purposes a straight marriage. The couple then moved to Oregon and started their lives together.

Then The Parental Instinct Kicked In

Thomas and Nancy were very happy together, but something was missing. He had dreamed of having children all of his life, but Nancy, who was much older, had two grown daughters, plus, she already had a hysterectomy.

Many in their position would have considered adoption as the most logical route. But Thomas felt the need to have biological children, insisting that it was a human instinct and that this desire wasn’t associated in any way with femininity. They decided he would get inseminated and carry their baby, but they would find obstacles in the way.

Rejections From The Medical Field

Many doctors found their situation way too complicated to get involved. Other were downright against it because of their religious beliefs. They really had a hard time finding someone that would really understand them and help them.

After being discriminated against and turned down multiple times (nine to be exact) they finally found someone that gave them the opportunity that they had been longing for; the chance to form a loving a family like any couple. They used frozen sperm from a donor to get Thomas pregnant, but the first one ended up being ectopic, and he had to undergo surgery.

Can't Hide The Baby Bump Forever

After that initial attempt failed, they were disheartened. However, they wouldn’t give up just yet. And indeed, they found success in the second try, when Thomas managed to become pregnant with their daughter.

At first, they tried keeping it a secret by telling neighbors that it was Nancy who was expecting a child. But people started to get suspicious after seeing her doing the heavy chores at the house. Eventually, when his belly started to show, and it got to a point where it got too difficult to hide it. So he decided that he should just be honest about it.

Their Marriage Suffered Under The Spotlight

Being in the spotlight even by choice is no easy feat, especially when dealing about something so delicate like family and children. When news got out, Thomas and Nancy had to install security systems and surveillance cameras to protect themselves from unwanted onlookers and paparazzi.

Exposing their lives certainly helped open up a space for couples in the same situation to feel safe in sharing their stories. However, it also took a toll on their personal lives and their relationship. The pair started having more and more problems. In the end, they decided the most healthy thing to go on their separate ways.

Who Got Custody Of The Kids After Their Divorce?

Their separation was filled with drama. The legal battle started when Thomas filed the paperwork in Arizona to get divorced. As the state didn’t recognize gay marriage at the time, it would mean that the 10-year marriage between Thomas and Nancy wasn't valid. As a result, they wouldn’t be able to obtain a divorce.

But since Thomas was legally a man at the time of their wedding, the state eventually allowed them to get a divorce after two years. Thomas was given sole custody of the three children and was ordered to pay alimony to his ex-wife.

Arrested For Stalking His Ex-Wife

But the turmoil surrounding the end of the relationship did not disappear just yet. In 2014, the same year when Thomas and Nacy were granted a divorce, Thomas was arrested for reportedly stalking Nancy by using a GPS device in her car.

Apparently, it had been there for a couple of years since he claimed he installed it while he was still the owner of the vehicle. He never told Nancy though. The woman was informed by an officer of the tracking device when he stopped to assist her with a flat tire in Phoenix, Arizona. In the end, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Falling In Love With The Teacher Of His Kids

Despite the terrible conflict with his ex-wife and his crazy divorce, Thomas wasn't ready to give up on finding love. So as soon as he was able to marry again, he knew he wanted to move things along with his long term girlfriend, Amber Nicholas.

She worked as a teacher and director in his children’s preschool when they met. Amber claimed she it was his sense of humor and his devotion as a father that made her fall in love with him. Amber lost her job teaching after her affair with Thomas became known, and she currently pursues a career in aesthetics.

Trying For Baby Number Four

Thomas and Amber were already living with his three children and Amber’s granddaughter, Lily, but they still had the desire to have a child together. The couple spent a hefty sum in IVF to get Amber pregnant with Thomas' frozen embryos, but she miscarried during their first attempt.

The couple was a little heartbroken since they were probably dreaming of having a bundle of joy together for a very long time. But this challenge wouldn’t deter them from trying again later. For now, they decided that getting married was the next step.

They Tied The Knot In A Beautiful Ceremony

In 2016, Thomas Beatie made the headlines once again. But this time, for a happy reason. He was getting remarried and starting a new chapter in his life with new love, Amber Nicholas.

The happy lovebirds shared details on how they planned their very traditional wedding. Thomas had insisted on it being elegant and classic. After all, it was legally his first time. When he married his ex-wife Nancy, they had said their vows in front of a justice of the peace and were both wearing casual lilac clothing. So this time, it meant a lot to him to have the full thing and their children there with him. He got very emotional.

The Road To Total Manhood

This time, the reason Thomas didn’t carry the baby was because of his lower surgery. He had undergone the procedure to further change his body. It was done once more by surgeon Marci Bowers.

The surgery is called Metoidioplasty, and it’s normally performed sometime after the hormonal treatment. It's consists of using tissue from the urethra to construct new male genitalia. This meant, that if he ever were to carry a child ever again, he would need to have a C-section to deliver it since a natural birth was now out of the question.

They Had A Miracle Baby

Sometime after they gave it another shot, Amber was finally able to carry and give birth to their little son, Jackson. Beatie took to social media to announce the news as he claimed he felt the boy was a little miracle due to Amber’s age and the issues they had trying to get her pregnant.

Fortunately, things had worked out, and now, they have a healthy boy as the newest addition to their loving family. The couple introduced Jackson to the public in an interview during the day time British television show called This Morning.

Thomas Beatie's Labor of Love

Thomas contributed to many books and different articles in LGBTQI+ magazines about transgender issues dealing with gender identity and their place in society. In addition to that, Beatie also published his very own book. It was released shortly after the birth of his first child Susan Juliette Beatie.

The book called Labor of Love he tells the story of his fight for the right of having a child in his terms. The work received many favorable reviews from critics, with The New York Times even calling it "a defiant and transformative read".

Now He's A Reality TV Star In France

In 2016, Beatie debuted as a contestant in the reality television of the French show called Secret Story. The show format was like Big Brother, following the life of contestants while they share a house. The catch is, every contestant has a secret.

In the case of Thomas, his secret was the fact that he was the first pregnant man. He did extremely well in the competition and placed second. He also received tons of support from the French audience. He gave a couple of interviews after the show for French television, too. The project was a challenge since Beatie had to speak only French while in the competition.

A Decade Has Passed Since The Controversy

After a decade since his story sparked a gender revolution, Thomas is proud of what he accomplished. Ultimately, he shared his story as a way to advocate for the LGBTQI+ community, regarding freedom of choice and parenthood rights. Now, he feels the workhi did at the time helped many people along the way.

Certainly, after he came into the light, many others have followed. Even famous people like Chaz Bono, Cher’s son, and the popular Caitlyn Jenner who also at the time made headlines of celebrity news are now considered only figures of pop culture. Thanks to Beatie, people got to know and understand transgender individuals in another way.

Going Through Career Changes

Thomas had almost a decade of a successful financial career being a stockbroker. But the truth is it is a very high stakes job, so when one day he lost everything he panicked. Fortunately for him and his big family, he had options.

Thomas is a very hardworking man and not only did he started his very own clothing company called Define Normal, but he also started a career in public speaking, being an advocate and activist for the LGBTQI+ community. Also, he became a martial arts teacher. Thomas would do anything to take care of his family.

The Kids Have Grown Up Well

Thomas gave a little sneak peek of how daily life is for him and his family to the Daily Mail. Turns out, it's ...quite normal, actually. His daughter and Amber’s granddaughter Lily share a bedroom together, and the boys share another. He also revealed how he feels that all his kids are very stereotypical.

The girls are girly, they like glitter and princess gowns and dressing up while with their Frozen dolls, while the boys are obsessed with Star Wars and have their room full of action figures, dinosaurs, and toy cars. But the most important thing is that they’re happy.

He Is The Voice Of His Community

One of the works he is more proud of is he got to become a motivational speaker for young people in schools and colleges. He someone who believes speaking directly to the youngest generation will cause a bigger impact on how society perceives individuals in the future.

His speeches are oriented towards diversity awareness, transgender education, and most importantly, community involvement. Three key things teenagers and young adults need to be able to love themselves exactly how they are and be able to love and accept others without prejudice or judgment just like what he found at the end of the rainbow after the storm.