Bend, Oregon’s own pregnant man, Thomas Beatie, who made headlines several months ago for being the world’s first (although many contest that claim) is back in the news and back in the baby business.
In an interview with Barbara Walters, which airs tomorrow might on 20/20, the Beatie family has revealed that they are expecting a second child.
Thomas Beatie, who is in his first trimester, tells Walters he did not go back on the male hormone testosterone after Susan’s birth so he could have another baby.
“I feel good,” he said. “I had my checkups with my hormone level, as far as the HCG. And everything is right on track.” He says the baby is due June 12.
Though I wish them all the best of luck and I am happy to see any couple start a family, I do worry both medically and socially. Beatie may say everything is right on track but the truth is that studies into hormone therapy flip-flopping just haven’t been performed. The trans population has not been given the proper level of medical care and study in general. The implication has been that trans, and queer communities in general, are fringe and unhealthy anyway, so studies into our health have not been thorough.
This, however, is a choice that the Beaties are welcome to make. My mother hen nature shouldn’t stop Thomas from having another biological child if that is what is truly important to him. But I do have a lot of questions about what he risks in doing so. If nothing else, I know that going on and off testosterone creates a whirlwind of emotions that can really affect your mental state and relationships in life.
Personally, I’m hoping after this kid they’re done and Beatie can get back to regulating his body in a safe and consistent manner, whether that means going back on T or not. I’m guessing he will, as their family structure and outlook on life seem fairly mainstream. And then, of course there’s the whole question of overpopulation in general and how many humans we want to keep putting on this planet and at what cost…which is, of course, a whole other debate.
What is interesting is that, besides the Walters interview, the Beaties also have a documentary premiering on Discovery Health Tuesday Nov. 18 at 9 p.m.. So far the information on the Web site seems helpful but very basic. The discussion seems limited to information on trans issues in general and not how a pregnancy and the intense hormone fluctuations may really affect Beatie’s long term health and life-expectancy.
I understand and respect the path that media and informational shows have to tread as we continue to introduce America to the first highly publicized breeding trans couple, but it is imperative that while we are doing so we are asking, and endeavoring to answer, all the tougher questions as well, be they medical or social in nature.
Elsewhere on OregonLive.com:
• Bend’s “pregnant man” expecting again