Well, there has been many a pregnant man in the past. I don't think that this is by any means the first incident, and it's not even the first really public incident (e.g, Pat Califa and his partner having a child).
However, this is the first time that such widespread media coverage has happened....
There are FTMs attracted to other males.
And they're on Manhunt
I am the wife of a female-to-male (FTM) transsexual, and like Thomas and Nancy, we are legally married. We will be adopting any children we have in the future.
I did want to say that I know, first hand, MANY, MANY, FTM men who are gay, and do date other men. It's actually quite common.
I think a lot of transmen identify as lesbians at some point because there is a certain amount of uncertainty with where they should "belong". I know this was the case for my husband and for many of our transgender friends.
There is not just a certain weirdness about transgender people that exists in the hetero-normative world, but it certainly exists in the gay and lesbian world as well. I can't even count how many times that we have been treated poorly because we're seen as "straight", a label with which neither of us fully identify. It seems that many gay and lesbian individuals confuse gender with sexuality as well, as one of the most frequently asked questions is "Why aren't you 'just' gay?"
At any rate, I agree with the above commenter, in that this is hardly the first "pregnant man" case. I know a handful of people, through an online group I moderate for partners, who have done similar things. While I think media exposure can be wonderful, a large part of me is selfishly nervous. While I greatly desire to educate people, when something simple is sensationalized, we stand to lose ground we have fought long and hard for. For example, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that was introduced this year to prevent GLBT people, federally, from discrimination in the workplace. Many legislators said they would vote for it, but only if the "transgender" part was taken out of the bill. Eventually, after weeks of protesting and letter writing and calling, some larger gay and lesbian advocacy groups jumped on board with an "all or nothing" stance, but even they were willing to chop off the transgender arm to advance their own cause at first.
I sort of thought you were kidding about FTM folks being attracted to masculine folks...if you weren't, I'd have to say that I know tons of FTM folks who are attracted to masculine people. In fact, among my circle of friends, it's quite evident.
I think this post is an example of the kind of really positive, constructive mainstream conversations that can happen as a result of the kind of media exposure that this Oprah'd couple has been getting. Just like with the homos back when they were trying to educate the world about how their identities somehow seem to exist in this normative world, it's about time trans folks create a plausable identity for themselves and gain some darn rights.
That said, I am also deeply worried about how this story could develop and, urther, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the intentions of Thomas and his partner. He gets pregnant and just -decides- he wants to go to the media with his pregnancy and subject his unborn child to a huge magnifying glass? What about the kid? What if, god forbid, there are problems with the pregnancy or birth defects that could happen in any pregnancy out there? The trans narrative as a political force in this country could be tarnished for years. And what would be the gain? This guy would have a book deal. End. So much for the trans movement.
I'm a bit concerned, needless to say.
I'm glad to see comments to the post 
I was hoping to get other perspectives on this as well.
In terms of the FtM being attracted to males .... I'll be honest that in my (albeit limited) experience, I've never really encountered someone in this situation (that I've been aware of), so I've never really thought of it. It would be nice to see this in mainstream pop culture, because I think a lot of people not familiar with the trans community assume gender identity and sexuality are the same thing. Trans individuals aren't portrayed enough in mainstream media, so it feels like when they are, it's a very "convenient" portrayal.
"It would be nice to see this in mainstream pop culture, because I think a lot of people not familiar with the trans community assume gender identity and sexuality are the same thing. Trans individuals aren't portrayed enough in mainstream media, so it feels like when they are, it's a very "convenient" portrayal."
Tell me about it. If you're interested, there's a movie about transmen who, at some point in their life, have had children. It's called "transparent" and it's quite good.
I'm always a little skeptical of Oprah's motives on any issue, regardless of how much I'm for it. So I'm a little confused on how to perceive her new focus on sexuality and gender. (IE, does she really care or is she just trying to be "cutting-edge"?) But, I do think all the exposure is definitely positive. Sure, some of use have heard of pregnant men before, but many "average Americans" don't even know what FTM means.
I thought it was funny when this first happened and everyone was shouting "Pregnant man! Pregnant man!" But then I realized he was FTM and still had a uterus and I thought "Oh, so what's all the hubbub about?"
Though, as far as wishing that biomales can carry babies, I'd still rather have my own.
Check out last month's Out magazine for an interesting story about transgender people who are gay. I think it was last month's issue...the one with Tilda Swinton on the front.
I'm glad to see this mentioned here. It seems like many of the comments sections of newspapers who have covered this story (and the comments sections of Oprah's show, too) have been so negative and violent to Thomas. People do things from putting the word man in quotes to talking about how disgusting they feel this confused woman is, and how they have nothing but pity for 'it's' child. I think that is an unfortunately accurate read of how many people feel about gender and what makes someone a man or a woman. 
As a sidenote, I brought the trans issue of Out magazine to work with me a few weeks ago, and a few days later my boss asked me why I had brought 'tranny porn' to work. Someone had said something. *sighs*
To T.S.
I'm not really sure I understand why you say that, "the trans narrative as a political force in this country could be tarnished for years," by this story, and how it could "end" the transgender/sexual rights movement. No matter how Thomas's pregnancy turns out (although I think most of us here are hoping for the best!), he and his wife have thrown FTM people into the spotlight. FINALLY, in my opinion. It's refreshing to finally see a more human depiction of the realities of a trans person's family, life, and concerns in mainstream culture. It's unfortunate that he has basically been set up as a weirdo by follow-up media, but I think that he has advanced the visibility and rights of trans people far more than he could ever detract from the movement.
I
Shawna-
Right. I didn't mean to take away from the fact, here, that finally (-~FINALLY~-) trans issues and trans identities have the spotlight -- and even a spotlight that shows a family identity that includes trans folks. I guess I'm coming from a more critical perspective, a bit of a more political/PR perspective, in terms of "what would happen if there were problems with the pregnancy". I think there would be a lot of horrible, essentialist media making claims that trans child-rearing IS actually the freak show that gossip magazines are already claiming. I didn't mean to detract from the positive effects of having trans experiences out in the spotlight overall, but I still stand by the claim that Thomas is under a lot of pressure right now.
I'm glad you wrote this post, but I'm unsure if you're joking, and pointing out that Oprah neglected to cover that point, or actually asking if transmen are ever into men.
As others have pointed out, there are plenty of transmen interested in men. Gay FtMs, Trannyfags, bisexuals, trisexual, pansexuals, etc. As you pointed out, sexuality and gender are very different things. Many transmen who date other men blend into the gay community so much that you wouldn't even know we're there. For example, before I began to medically transition, I had no idea 2 of the men I knew in the gay community who kept telling me what a cute guy I was actually were transmen. I didn't know medical transition was a possibility for FtMs. I only knew how I felt on the inside. The learning came later. And when I showed up at a trans conference, they outed themselves to me saying "I didn't know you were trans!" So it's not unusual at all, but we can be rather invisible.
Another part of your article which set off little red alert sirens for me, was your focus on the US prejudice which continues against gays and lesbians. Are you saying Thomas and his wife are lesbians because he's a transman? I don't think that's what you meant, but why not emphasize the clear prejudice already shown against transgender people instead of moving from discussing a straight couple to discussing homophobic precepts in this country. It's not at all difficult to find transphobic thoughts, anti-trans law makers, gender clueless policies, and the lack of Equal rights for trans people, why focus in on gays and lesbians being attacked and then implying that is proof Thomas and his wife may be bringing their child into the limelight in a world which isn't ready for them?
Just a couple thoughts and questions for you.
Just a note- I'm a transman that likes men, and I know quite a few others who are, too. We do exist- just like transwomen who like women
Sometimes, it seems like there are more gay transpeople than straight ones- I only know a few who identify as heterosexual.
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