Pregnant Transgender Man
Here is a story that has been ricocheting all over the web. (I’ve linked to what I believe to be the original story in The Advocate.) I’ve actually already blogged about this on my other blog. But it’s worth commenting on here as well, perhaps for different reasons.
It’s pretty obvious why the story is so sensational–a pregnant man. But read the story carefully and notice how many issues transgender people raise and have to confront in their lives. For example, the couple is legally married in Oregon. Now, like most states, Oregon restricts marriage to different sex couples. But Oregon also allows a person to change their legal sex, so this is a male/female marriage, hence lawful. You wouldn’t get that result in all states. Some states would view this as a female/female marriage and hence, unlawful. (Those same states would insist the pregnant person is a woman, which might make the story far less remarkable.)
The story in all its complexity reveals a great deal about how much of our family law is tied to gender. Thus, questions like “Can the person who gives birth give a father?” are earnestly discussed around the web. It’s not sufficient that the person who gives birth will be a parent.
Tags: family, gender, marriage, parent, pregnancy, transgender
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April 2, 2008 at 4:23 pm
He is doing what he can to show care, concern, and love for his mate. I cannot see his crime or why he should be made a freak.
Let us not confuse by unfair association those who have medical issues…
Every ten minutes a child is born, 1/2500, in which the doctor cannot determine the sex, or gender. This is not talking about homosexuality, but tragically a congenital condition of birth which can be caused by endocrine agents and chemicals. These children are Intersex; they are born into a life of not male or female. Likewise in similar fashion the Transsexual is identified with a Bioneurological congenital condition, and they too are locked into something not quite so clearly defined as male, or female. The best we can do is live as close to what we seem to believe we are. That may preclude the wants, and often ignorant and bigoted beliefs of others. In what case do we ignore this issue and abandon the children who now cannot hide? How can anyone continue in hate and prejudice so as to deny simple equality and justice? Not an easy thing to resolve, but one that is present and will not go away. I can appreciate social opinion, and the freedom to express same, but I would hope our culture and ethos would be with regard to the children, teens, and emerging adults, and all who are not so fortunate to have been born by someone’s idea of “normal.”
Stellewriter – Conservative Christian, Parent, and Transsexual.
April 2, 2008 at 4:26 pm
If the parent who gives birth to the child cannot be a father in some states, would the sperm donor be designated the father? Or do they still lose their parental rights?
An interview with pregnant Thomas will air this Thursday on Oprah.