Thomas Beatie, who gained public attention nearly two decades ago as the first transgender man to carry and give birth to a child, has spoken out against the rapid provision of gender-affirming medical treatments for minors. Beatie, now 53 and a father of four, suggested that the current approach could have altered his own ability to start a family.
"I’m glad I’m not a teenager today because, If I were, I have a feeling I would have taken hormones at a young age and maybe had surgery much sooner and I would not have had the children that I have today," Beatie told the Daily Mail. He added that the perceived support for such transitions among peers could influence young individuals to undergo treatments without sufficient personal maturity or understanding.
Beatie emphasized the developmental stage of adolescence, noting that the human brain continues to develop until around age 25. He believes that rushing into irreversible medical procedures like puberty blockers and surgeries during teenage years could foreclose future life options, including the possibility of having biological children. "Everything changes, your outlooks, your desires, your goals, your ambitions… and if you’ve had puberty blockers and surgery in your teens, you’ve completely wiped away that option," he stated.
Beatie, who was assigned female at birth and later underwent top surgery, became a media figure in 2007 when photos circulated showing him pregnant. He was notable as the first legally recognized pregnant man, detailing his decision to carry children when his first wife, Nancy Beatie, was unable to due to a prior hysterectomy. Beatie gave birth to their first child in 2008, and the couple had two more children before their divorce in 2012. He later had a fourth child with his second wife, Amber Beatie, who gave birth in 2018.
Reflecting on his experience, Beatie clarified his identity, stating, "I never felt like a mother – I was a vessel bringing this life into the world. That didn’t make me female. My role in society is, and was, as a husband and a father."
The debate surrounding gender-affirming care for youth is ongoing. Critics argue that minors may not possess the maturity to consent to permanent medical interventions, while proponents contend that such treatments are crucial for alleviating gender dysphoria and preventing potential mental health crises. A federal executive order signed by former President Trump aimed to restrict gender transition procedures for individuals under 19, but this measure has faced temporary legal challenges and blockades in federal courts.