He was the first man in the world to give birth – 16 years later, he looks like this

Sixteen years ago, Thomas Beatie made headlines as the first man to get pregnant.

Thomas was born female but became a transgender man. The world paid attention when he had his first daughter, Susan.

This big news brought him many death threats from people who didn’t agree with a man having a baby.

Thomas didn’t let the negativity stop him. Now, he has a daughter and two sons.

Thomas was born in Hawaii in 1974 as Tracy Lehuanani LaGondino. He felt like a boy by age ten and started testosterone at 23.

He modeled and was a finalist in the Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageant. He also did well in karate and Taekwondo, winning a junior championship in 1992.

In 2002, Thomas had surgery to remove his breasts and changed his legal gender to male. He kept his female reproductive organs, which let him get pregnant later.

Thomas stopped his testosterone in 2006 to try for a baby with his then-wife Nancy, because they were having trouble conceiving.

In 2008, photos of a pregnant Thomas spread globally, earning him the nickname “the pregnant man.” He received hate mail and threats.

Health professionals and others treated him poorly. Some wouldn’t accept his gender identity or acknowledge his wife.

After a tough 48-hour labor, Thomas gave birth to Susan. He chose a natural birth and was the first legally male person to give birth.

Thomas had four more pregnancies over five years, raising Susan and sons Austin and Jensen with Nancy.

In 2008, Thomas talked on the Oprah Winfrey Show about his right to have children, challenging traditional views on gender and parenting.

In 2016, Thomas married Amber and moved to Oregon with their kids and Amber’s grandchild. The household is lively with four young children.

Thomas occasionally appears online and gives talks. He now works as a stockbroker in Phoenix and enjoys a quieter life with occasional public appearances and acting jobs.

Reflecting on the past, Thomas noted that when his story first emerged, few knew about transgender men. His story was a first for many and highlighted fertility issues for trans people.

He said, “It was a whirlwind. But I still don’t regret it.”