I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the pregnant man. If you haven’t heard about this story, a transgendered female-to-male person is pregnant.
You can read about it here. GaySocialites.com
At first I was very torn about this situation because my ideals and principles are in the support of a persons right to live their lives the way they want to live. I have always supported that. And I will never change that line of thinking. Freedom and the right to live the way you want to live provided you are not hurting anyone else, is one of the most important issues we face. Everyone is entitled to live how they want to, love how they want to, and have children if they want to. But on the surface, my knee-jerk reaction to this is that this is a weird situation.
The reason I was torn about this particular situation, is the questions it raises about the health and well being of the baby and father. Are there tests and results from someone who has spent a matter of time on testosterone and then became pregnant? Will that effect the baby? So far there is no complications with this pregnancy, thank God. But there have been issues in the past with Thomas Beatie. He was pregnant before this with triplets. It had become “life-threatening” causing the loss of all 3 embryos and his right fallopian tube. And I have no doubt that was with the help of more hormones and IVF. What will such drastic hormonal levels do to his body or the baby?
That is my ignorance coming out. Not over the societal factors, but medically. I don’t have enough facts to understand how this situation will play out. I pray that it’s a healthy and safe pregnancy.
When thinking of societal factors, the only issue I see is when this baby grows up, the confusion that he or she may face knowing that his or her father is the one who gave birth. It’s not a gay issue. It’s a confusion issue. It’s the first of it’s kind on such a publicized level. It will take many more situations like this before people just move on and consider it no big deal. That’s worrisome. I am not saying this family should be afraid, but again it makes me worry because there are a lot if ignorant assholes out there.
Again I want to reiterate that I am all about gay rights and support whole heartedly same sex marriage and families. And I am even in support of this man’s right to have his own child. It just confuses me a little bit in my first reactions to it, and then it worries me in the long run about how this child will grow up. But then again this is what it was like for gay couples adopting and having their own children. Just a tad more extreme.
But then I have to remember, this is the world we live in. The long battle and struggle for gay rights has opened these doors.
I watched a great documentary on Logo the gay network on cable, called Gender Rebels. This was a fascinating look at girls who identify as gay about 75% of the time, but about 25% of the time they like the opposite sex. This is not bisexuality. The girls featured would dress like boy’s, bind their breasts, not shave, or do anything specifically to look female. They liked dressing as boys. That’s who they are and that’s how they feel comfortable. But the stigma with labels has caused major confusion. The gay community in some cases had issues accepting bisexuals in to the club. Some still have issues with transgendered people. But with this new kind of “rebel” and the way people act, saying you have to like what you identify with is against the original rights the gay community fought for. Basically if you are a man and you like men, you are gay. No switching or you are bi. That’s left an outcast of some people. Not only are they outcast by mainstream society, but the gay community who helped open these doors, have not been reacting well to the “gender rebels”either.
For the most part the gay community has really embraced and worked hard for everyone’s rights. But as I mentioned there are some that believe that the effort and the hard work to get gay rights where they are today, is being over shadowed by these “gender rebels.” Or that some who are only gay, wish to further separate from the bisexual and transgendered community.
Here is an article about “gender patriots” and “gender rebels” by Dale Carpenter. Independent Gay Forum
When I watched that documentary, I was angered by the gay communities negative reaction to these “gender rebels.” As I said, they have fought so hard and opened many doors that cannot be closed. And it should not be closed. The door is open and these new identities have to be welcomed. These new scenarios we face have to be embraced. If we don’t accept it now, we will never get out of the dark as far as human nature goes.
Remembering how angry I got over the “gender rebels” not being accepted by some members of the gay community, forced me to check myself about this issue here. A man is pregnant. It’s interesting, controversial, scary, exciting, and confusing. But this is the world we live in. Thomas Beatie is a true “gender rebel.”
And even though I am a little confused about the medical aspects of this situation, a little worried about negative attention this child could face when they grow up, who the hell am I to judge this family? All I can do is wish them the best of luck and hope that more people are accepting about this situation. It’s okay to ask questions.
I can’t wait until we get to a point in time when who you sleep with. Like on the show Dr. Who when they meet Captain Jack. He comes from a time where people sleep with who every they want. There are no labels and no lines.
Tags: Confusion, Cultural Issues, Discussion Piece, Interesting, Transgender
