Born female, Thomas Beatie underwent a gender transition and now identifies as a transgender man. He captured global attention when he became the first transgender man to give birth, welcoming his daughter, Susan. Despite the milestone, his journey was marred by death threats from those opposed to a man giving birth.
Undeterred by the backlash, Thomas has continuously championed his authentic self. His family has since grown to include not only daughter Susan but also two sons, making him a parent to three children. His story continues to evolve as he breaks new ground in transgender parenthood.
Born in 1974 in Hawaii as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino, Thomas began identifying as a boy at the age of ten and started testosterone therapy by 23. As a teenager, he pursued modeling, reached the finals of the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant, and excelled in martial arts, earning a junior championship at the 1992 Aloha State Games.
In 2002, Thomas underwent surgery to remove his breasts and officially changed his sex marker to “male” on his state and federal documents, while retaining his female reproductive organs. In a bold decision in 2006, he halted his testosterone treatment to pursue conception, ultimately choosing to carry the child himself despite fertility challenges with his then-wife Nancy.
