Thomas Beatie - Pregnant Man Getting Death Threats

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts) Nov 18th 2008 11:00AM

Thomas Beatie, aka The Pregnant Man

Thomas Beatie, a.k.a. the pregnant man, recently announced that he and wife Nancy are expecting again. Deciding to go for baby number two is a big decision in any family, but the Beatie's situation likely required careful thought. On the one hand, they'd be blessed with another beautiful baby. On the other, they'd have to let the world back into their personal lives for nine months.

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The Beatie's just don't deal with media scrutiny; they also deal with hate. They've been flooded with hate-filled and threatening emails, phone calls, and letters. Some even say they hope that Thomas will die during childbirth, while commentators hosted by Fox News called their first baby a "little Ewok" who would probably be born "with a third eye," suggesting, I guess, that their sperm donor came from a galaxy far, far away.

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But mostly, the haters call Thomas a freak. Whether or not you agree with what the Beaties are doing, it's hard to understand how normal people can say such hurtful things about a couple who are just minding their own business (and who just might ask others to do the same). This isn't unique to the Beaties' situation, of course. In this day and age of email, caller ID blocking, and anonymous online commenting, people can say whatever they want and never have to hang around to see the consequences of their behavior.

What do you think?

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A modeling shot of Thomas Beatie at age 13.

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Thomas Beatie in labor with wife, Nancy Beatie at the Cascade Healthcare Community Hospital on June 29, 2008 in Bend, Oregon.

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Comments (442)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 23)

JoAnn 11-18-2008 @ 11:20AM

while I don't really judge Thomas Beatie's decision, and hope that others would try their best to be open minded as well- I don't necessarily believe that this is a couple "trying to mind their own business". In fact- I think that they're doing the complete opposite.

I'm not saying that that excuses the actions of those few animals who will find any opportunity to spread hate.

I also take issue with the fact that Thomas is being called "The Pregnant Man". Thomas dresses as a man, associates as a man, but she is NOT a man. Thomas is a transgendered individual, who still happens to be anatomically categorized as a woman. Dressing and living as a man.

I mean- to each his own. But a spade is a spade, in my opinion. It's misleading to coin Thomas a man- and reeks of sensationalism.

Keri Byrd 11-18-2008 @ 8:16PM

I agree totally!! Doesnt matter to me but thats not a MAN having a baby(Period)

jth713 11-18-2008 @ 8:37PM

THIS IS NOT A MAN IT IS A WOMAN THAT HAD HER BREAST REMOVED AND STARTED TAKING MALE HORMONES. THIS IS A WOMAN TRYING TO LOOK LIKE A MAN. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!

Debbie 11-19-2008 @ 6:25AM

I couldn't agree with you more! 'he' is in fact, a woman. I know that society would like to belive that men can have babies but, the truth is... they can't. If it were me in that situation, and I really wanted have a baby, I wouldn't announce it to People Mag... I would just do it. I am happy that they are able to have a beautiful family, I just think that they should do it in private so they can ward off anyone who thinks that they don't have the right to do as they are doing.

zoe 11-18-2008 @ 8:39PM

is it really being open minded if you use the phrase "call a spade a spade"?

James 11-18-2008 @ 10:18PM

She needs to get spade... :O SHe is a She.. the parts she was born with are all still there...

Amanda 11-18-2008 @ 10:16PM

Just when you think you've have seen it all. I don't really think what is going on with this situation is right or wrong but did these people ever actually think about how this will affect their children in the long run? I mean, this is not a common thing and when they get into school and bring home friends, many parents or even children will not be very comfortable about this I am sure. But we all know how cruel some people can be. I just feel bad for the children and how they will grow up. I think people need to take them into consideration more.

Charles Jenkins 11-19-2008 @ 7:11AM

I agree with you JoAnn. "Thomas" is a woman. Sensationalizing this is crazy. Live life as you wish, but stop saying you are a man. This is a field day for the press and of course they will hype it up.

Frankie 11-18-2008 @ 10:30PM

I agree 110% with this post, a man is a man and a woman is a woman and this is just media hype to call this woman a man and we all know this and so lets all grow up and see this for what it is, a woman is having a baby and in that it's a beautiful thing but a very NORMAL experience and this person seems to WANT the attention and for Oprah Winfrey to have this woman on her show and get caught up in this silly hype and to call HER a 'pregnant Man' is absurb and this is demeaning to all woman because only a woman can truely carry a baby to term or maybe I missed something?

Michelle 11-19-2008 @ 1:07AM

Why? Why? Why? Is it any business of ours....? Let them be.
They are not harming us.
Michlle

mike 11-18-2008 @ 10:34PM

I agree completely this person is no more a man than I am a woman , they need to stop refering to them as the pregnant man , more like the pregnant wanna be a man

amy 11-18-2008 @ 10:41PM

AMEN... you couldn't have said it better or in a more sensitive, yet correct, way

Joshua 11-18-2008 @ 10:49PM

I couldn't have said it better myself!

cetiya 11-18-2008 @ 11:34PM

oh god, now we have to hear about the pregnant "man" for another 8 months. I'm sick of hearing about "him" sigh

Jason 11-18-2008 @ 11:37PM

Please! Give me a break! They want all the attention they can get, the freak! I will not go so far as to threaten their lives, but seriously, the fact is "he" is not a man. Never was never will be! "He" started life as a female and in fact never underwent a complete gender change so "he" is still a female. That is how "he" is able to carry a baby and yes S(HE) claims to be a man. She is in fact just a freaky Lesbian and is in a relationship with another woman. This would be alright except that S(HE) is pretending to be a man who can get pregnant! That is what makes it weird. Like I said S(HE) does really like the attention S(HE) is getting! As do all odd and freaky people!

Lawrence 11-19-2008 @ 12:06AM

Given the geographical area these folks live in, I am surprised they haven't been run out of town on a rail. I grew up in that area, and 40 years ago, if a person of color moved into the area, they didn't stay long. Transgender would probably put to locals over the edge.

However, that said, I admire these people, trying to create a family out of something strange, and very unconventional. More power to them, and God help their children.

WOVER007 11-18-2008 @ 11:56PM

The word Homophobia is a mental disorder homosexuals gave to heterosexual for not desiring same sex sodomy or male rectal intercourse. These people are supported by "men who get pregnant, trisextuals who like men woman and farm animals. The next group who wont equal sexual rights are father daughter , sister brother grand paw granddaughter and I have the constitutional right to try to get my dog, hamster and cat pregnant perverts.

John Stark 11-19-2008 @ 3:08AM

I agree with you on most parts of your post. I also admire your acceptance on these things. The one thing I would have to disagree with is calling him a female. He has had top surgery as well as taken testosterone for a long while. He stopped taking it so he could carry the children. Having done these things allows him to be catagorized as male. He can even change his birth certificate to state that fact if he chose to. I am sure he would have bottom surgery if it was perfected but it is not and that leaves most female to males in a sad position. Male to females can have a complete reassingnment surgery that is usually succesful.....it can not be said for female to male. Thomas is indeed a man.

Wanda 11-19-2008 @ 12:17AM

JoAnn, you could not have said it any better!

Babs 11-19-2008 @ 1:26AM

Wow Rose, you're a moron!
I can only hope your children/grandchildren are gay or transgendered, then maybe you'll realize how asinine your comments are. People are who they are. No amount of counseling is going to make a gay person straight, or a straight person gay. So you're saying if you received intense counseling, you could be persuaded to become gay??? I assume your answer is no, so you must think only gay people can be persuaded to become straight. Ridiculous! It's dumb people like you who perpetrate hate in this country.