Legal Gender-Bender: Dad-to-Be Pregnant

Family Law

Posted Mar 27, 2008, 04:16 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

How does the law relate to a pregnant dad? Some folks in a central Oregon resort town are about to find out.

Originally born female, a transgender man in the city of Bend is now legally Thomas Beatie, married to Nancy. Because his wife had her uterus removed, however, and he retained his despite sex-change surgery, the couple focused on him when they decided to try to have a child several years ago, reports the Oregonian.

"So Beatie stopped testosterone injections, and menstrual periods returned within four months. He says he conceived through artificial insemination at home with sperm bought from a sperm bank and that he didn't take fertility drugs," the Portland newspaper recounts.

He tells his story in an upcoming issue of the Advocate, a national gay publication, and it has been picked up by other media.

So far, their biggest problem has been that some doctors have refused to treat him during his pregnancy, Beatie writes. But further legal issues appear likely, in a situation that creates obvious questions, starting, perhaps, with how he will be listed on the baby's birth certificate.

"Our situation sparks legal, political and social unknowns," his account continues. "We have only begun experiencing opposition from people who are upset by our situation."

Additional coverage:

London Times: "Thomas Beatie, a married man who used to be a woman, is pregnant with a baby girl"

Comments

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Posted by Chrisssyesq - 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 22 hours, 57 minutes ago

Does having a sex change modify ones legal gender? I believe if a transgender person is imprisoned in Texas the person is sent to the mens/womens facility based on the persons birth gender. I believe our “no same sex marriage “ statutes are applied this way as well.
Perhaps there wouldnt be any legal issues in Texas. Quien sabes.

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