Beatie, who first came to media attention with a self-written article published in gay publication The Advocate, said that he has been living as a transgendered man for the past ten years, but retained his female reproductive organs. Through the process of artificial insemination, Beatie became pregnant and is expecting a daughter in July.
Since the mention on Oprah last week, online searches for keyword phrases like “pregnant man” and “Oregon pregnant man” spiked dramatically, and searches for Beatie’s name have increased nearly 3,000 percent.
In the Advocate article, Beatie pointed out that he is legally classified as male, and also legally married to his wife Nancy, who will become a mother when the child is born while Beatie steps into his role as father.
Beatie also stated that he and his wife have encountered many difficulties and negative reactions from healthcare providers, family and the public.
“Our situation sparks legal, political, and social unknowns. We have only begun experiencing opposition from people who are upset by our situation,” Beatie wrote in the article. “Doctors have discriminated against us, turning us away due to their religious beliefs. Healthcare professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy’s family doesn’t even know I’m transgender.”
Beatie has received attention from several media outlets including Huffington Post,, Yahoo News, People.com, Buzz.com and Boing Boing.
News agency Rueters.com posted a video of Beatie’s neighbors commenting on the situation. Reuters reported also that Beatie is avoiding the press corps that has taken up camp outside his house.
On her show, Winfrey said that the pregnancy is "a new definition of what diversity means for everybody."