Thomas Beatie is an Am

erican female-to-male transsexual. He began transitioning in the late 1990’s by undergoing hormone therapy and surgery. In 2002, he opted for a gender reassignment procedure that allowed him to keep his original reproductive organs. That year, he was legally recognized as a man, and in 2003 he married his wife, Nancy.

Thomas and Nancy wanted to start a family, but Nancy was no longer capable of childbearing. So, in 2008, Thomas garnered worldwide attention by becoming pregnant through artificial insemination—thereby expanding the human experience of

pregnancy to men. Today, he is renowned as the pop-culture icon, the world’s first Pregnant Man (the first person to give birth fully documented as male and legally married to a woman), and according to Guinness World Records, the World’s First Married Man to Give Birth. The Beaties' unprecedented legal situation exposed serious discriminatory policies concerning a transgender birth parent; Thomas and Nancy had to legally adopt the children that Thomas bore to ensure their full parental status. In addition to legal challenges, The Beaties also faced medical discrimination due to Thomas' transgender identity. Champion of human rights and cultural diversity for everyone, Thomas wants to help foster the change required for transgender people to receive full social, medical, political, and legal equality.

News of Thomas' pregnancy sparked a worldwide media frenzy across multiple platforms. He appeared in interviews with top echelon media moguls Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, and Larry King, and has appeared regularly on

popular venues like Good Morning America, The View, and most recently The Doctors. Thomas’ pregnancy was the topic of countless media and pop culture outlets, including repeated coverage in People Magazine and photographed by world renown photographer Mary Ellen Mark. In the United States alone, the story was sensationalized on David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and South Park. Thomas and Nancy now have three beautiful children bo

rn of Thomas: Susan Juliette Beatie (6-29-08), Austin Alexander Beatie (6-9-09), and Jensen James Beatie (7-25-10). Their family has made television appearances in over a dozen countries from Romania to Japan and has received mass media exposure, including magazine, newspaper, and radio, in just about every country in the world.  Internet coverage on the Beaties was just as intense. When not globe-trotting, the family lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Already by 2008, Thomas’ first pregnancy had become the largest and furthest reaching transgender news story in history, and kick-started a media cascade of growing world-wide transgender awareness and reporting that has still not seen its crest. The exclusive documentary, “Pregnant Man,” released in November of 2008, was wildly successful and continues to air today throughout the world, documenting the final weeks of his pregnancy and the landmark birth of Susan.

Thomas graduated from high school two years early, and started college at the age of 16, initially pursuing pre-medical studies. However, Thomas is an entrepreneur at heart, and after graduating with a bachelors in Health Science from the

University of Hawaii, he founded his creatively-named screen printing and clothing company, Define Normal (1997 to present). His company’s empowering message in support of diversity struck a chord with the public, and the innovative Define Normal business model catapulted into financial success.  Head artist and printer, shop manager, and web designer, Thomas was also in charge of production, marketing and advertising, and accounting. His creative, energetic engagement with every aspect of the company mirrors the courage he shows in all facets of his personal and professional life.

Thomas has a particular passion in advocacy for social change and gender equality. In 2000-2001, he was the co-chair and media chair for the Civil Unions-Civil Rights Movement in

Honolulu, Hawaii, a non-profit LGBT organization for marriage equality.  He helped organize and implement an island-wide, 7-day, 110-mile March for Equality.  He also lobbied to pass the state’s first Hate Crimes Law (which passed in June, 2001), and worked as an advisor for the city and county’s Chapter 19, an anti-bullying policy for the Board of Education.

Shortly after Susan was born, Thomas authored his first book, Labor of Love: The Story of One Man’s Extraordinary Pregnancy

(published in October, 2008).  His unprecedented pregnancy has challenged traditional ideas about husband and wife, mom and dad, and what constitutes family. In Labor of Love, the Pregnant Man gives insight into the incredible battle he fought for his right to have a child. Throughout his journey, some have supported and cheered Thomas’ bravery for confronting the legal, social, and political barriers he faced, while others have expressed fear, hatred, or ignorance by condemning his choices and his family.  Publisher’s Weekly described the book as “A compelling, unique narrative,” Book List praised it as “Unforced and unpretentious,” and the New York Times called it “Defiant and transformative.” Read the book for yourself for a glimpse into an inspiring, humble, and very human story.

In May of 2010, sculptor Marc Quinn presented a 10-foot marble statue of Thomas

when he was pregnant with daughter, Susan.  Quinn showcases the diversity of the human spectrum through his artwork, and says of the statue: “I think one of the main things to remember is that media attention and images are of their moment whereas Art is forever … that in 500 years time people will look at the beautiful marble sculpture of you and have an emotional response and it will, I believe, somehow define something about our time.” The Guardian remarked, “The huge white marble sculpture of him is astonishing: George Michael meets Michelangelo’s David.  The David reference is deliberate—it’s not simply the scale, but the sense of innocence and purity” (April 30, 2010). A progressive men’s website, GoodMenProject.com, recently wrote about Thomas’ statue in an article named, “Behold The Pregnant Man.”

Always controversial and non-conformist, Thomas has been championed as a "pioneer"—and chastised as a "maverick"—for speaking publicly about his story. Whichever the take, no one can deny that Thomas bravely offered his story to the world as an example of a happy, healthy, loving, self-fulfilled transgender person. Thomas shows us that living an authentic life is the best thing a person can do for oneself and society. His unique perspective and humanitarian motives have helped others to be more open-minded and see people in a more inclusive way. He continues to be up-front, honest, and unapologetic about his family's story because he feels that openness is important—that it demystifies the differences among us and promotes social justice and harmony. His platform of core family values is wholesome and universal. Charismatically speaking to large and small audiences alike, Thomas Beatie inspires people to realize their own dreams of self-identity, expression, and personal achievement—despite adversity and social pressure. He is happy to be interviewed on camera or radio, as well as to contribute or write about his motivational and positive life message for print or web audiences. By being authentic and open about his life and choices, Thomas Beatie has created greater social recognition of transgender people’s reproductive rights and options. In August of 2011, he was the opening speaker (and seminar presenter)

for Stockholm Pride, speaking to an audience of tens of thousands, and also leading one-on-one discussions with doctors, politicians, and policy-makers in support of abolishing the sterilization law for Swedish transgender people.

Former female model, bodybuilder, and black belt, Thomas is a fitness enthusiast and has recently returned to his zeal for martial arts. He is currently a mens' Taekwondo full-contact tournament champion, continuing to test the boundaries of his mind and body as an athlete and a gender visionary. He’s been discussed in textbooks and academic journals; required reading for some university

courses, expanding the philosophical notions and possibilities of gender identity and experience. His successful gender transition and pregnancies challenge social normalcy, provoke new conversations, and revolutionize the way we think about sex and gender. Encouraging the flexibility, evolution, and expansion of gender roles, Thomas Beatie is a man fighting for the love, existence, and happiness of his family. Contrary to one prevalent misconception about transgender people, Thomas does not believe he was born in the wrong body. He feels he was born exactly the way he was meant to be born. Thanks to far-reaching scientific, social, and personal advancements, he is proud to be a self-made man as well as the loving husband and father he is today. "We get to choose who we want to be and how we live our lives. It's about making our own decisions," he says.

Thomas Beatie is a beacon of hope for people struggling with the stigma that transgender people can't or shouldn't start a family. He sees a need to help today’s transgender youth by embracing the ideas of self-love and acceptance. He is embarking on a renewed effort to educate transgender people and their friends and families about the resources available to them—including the importance of maintaining one’s reproductive options and health. Thomas Beatie is a strong communicator and spokesperson, a witty and candid free-thinker, and a loving and compassionate family man. He feels his greatest accomplishment to date has been his fight to give birth to his three children—and though he shares this paramount love of family with parents everywhere, the barriers he has faced to creating that family have been unique, inspiring, and extraordinary.

In February of 2012, after many years of thoughtful consideration, Thomas elected to have "lower surgery" to further modify his body. His brave surgical journey, performed by world-renown transgender surgeon, Dr. Marci Bowers, was documented on his second appearance of The Doctors TV Show. (May 1, 2012)

The procedure, called a “Ring Metoidioplasty,” included transfer of tissue, elongation of the hormonally enlarged phallus, as well as urethral construction and lengthening to create a functioning penis. Thomas fulfilled his longtime desire to not only enhance his sex life but also make it possible for him to urinate while standing, acting as a role model for his two young sons. "I didn't see this surgery as something I needed to do to feel more male--or as a final step for sex change--I already fully legally, psychologically, and socially transitioned over 10 years ago. Surgery is the not the end-all for gender reassignment, it's simply an option." Thomas, as always, is willing to speak candidly to educate others regarding the success and also the risk for complications of this elective surgery and his need for possible revisions in the near future.

Sometimes divorce happens. (Or does it?) After 14 years of being in a relationship (9 years of marriage) Thomas and Nancy Beatie filed for divorce in Phoenix, Arizona of March, 2012. For three months, the case moved through the system like any other divorce... granted there are complications like a bitter child custody dispute and an order of protection being served against Nancy due to her alcohol addiction and domestic violence, but a final divorce

hearing was set for September 18, 2012. Unexpectedly, on June 26, 2012, Judge Douglas Gerlach, the Maricopa County Superior Court judge overseeing the matter, vacated the final trial date and put the divorce on hold. The judge backpedaled from what seemed to be the course for a normal divorce case to issuing a Nunc Pro Tunc Order challenging the jurisdiction and validity of the Beaties' marriage and Thomas' male identity. Due to the fact that Thomas chose to use his reproductive organs and give birth to his children, the judge potentially sees their marriage as a same-sex union. Read here for details of the Press Release.

In a 20-page memorandum submitted on July 30, 2012 to the court by Thomas' attorney, Michael Clancy of the Cantor Law Group, it cites how Thomas underwent irreversible sex change procedures before being granted an amended birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, and social security index. Thomas and Nancy also received a traditional marriage license in Hawaii, like Arizona, a

state that does not recognize same-sex marriage. Sterilization, however, is not a requirement for either State's Statue for legal sex change. The document also states that Thomas was legally a man when he birthed his three children and was listed as "Father" on each of his children's birth certificates, furthermore, that he qualified and currently meets every statutory and administrative requirement to be legally a man and legally married in Arizona.

"One hand of the government is not acknowledging the other hand and fails to provide equal rights and protection for transgender citizens. In the future, people like me and situations like mine will continue to fall through the cracks," says Thomas Beatie.

Ironically, Thomas is currently battling to “save” his marriage in order to be granted the right to get a divorce and his case may

have lasting implications on the future of family law in Arizona and abroad. Why? Because the science, which gave rise to legislative action in recognizing one’s ability to change gender, is not being applied in this family court case. Thomas' case also raises the novel question of what constitutes gender and whether legal men can give birth to children.

Thomas argues, "A challenge like this, especially in a conservative state like Arizona, is how laws are changed and progress is made. This is history in the making which could affect the lives of millions of transgender people, not to mention the average person who cares about equality.”

The Beatie case is a first of its kind, where a documented legal male gives birth within a traditional marriage to a woman. The outcome of Beatie v. Beatie will either set a positive or negative precedent for the ability of transgender people to get married, stay married, or be granted a divorce. This is also a test case for the

reproductive rights of transgender people within marriage and for a transgender person's ability to legally maintain his/her legal gender identity. The legal decision coming from Beatie v. Beatie will be a springboard and reference for similar cases in addition to hopefully weakening the absurdity of state-to-state restrictions on marriage recognition. If Judge Gerlach denies the Beaties a divorce, Thomas' legal team will appeal the decision and take the case to the Supreme Court.

“Hopefully after hearing the evidence, Judge Gerlach will expand his understanding of the complexities of biology and sociology and allow the laws to catch up to the times," Thomas explains.

I

n a recent episode of Dr. Drew (8-14-12), Thomas with his lead attorney, David Cantor, openly discuss the complications of his unique divorce. The Cantor Law Group is actively pursuing justice by challenging the Arizona courts rationale in the Beatie matter. International interest followed as Thomas gave in-person interviews in London, England on ITV’s This Morning, and the BBC, 5Live.

Visibility for this very important milestone in marriage law is crucial because without it, a single judge will succeed in stealthily invalidating the

marriages of transgender people and their hard-fought-for identities, setting a discriminatory legal framework for the nation. In the weeks prior to his upcoming December 7, 2012 trial, Thomas Beatie will be appearing on several mainstream national media outlets including the finale of Oprah's new show, "Where Are They Now?" Tuesday, November 27 at 10PM ET/PT on OWN.

If you are an individual willing to give expert testimony or are representing an organization and would like to support Thomas Beatie and his fight for gender identity and marriage equality, please email legal@definenormal.com

Contact:

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