A Story “Worthy” of Oprah?
I didn’t get to see Thomas Beatie on Oprah last week (even though reader Melis gave me a heads up as soon as she saw my post.) But the “world’s first pregnant man”’s appearance on daytime TV has come up in conversations with multiple friends this week. Luckily, I knew the plot, but I thought I would take a peek at Oprah’s site to see what I missed.
More interesting than the show’s recap is the discussion taking place on Oprah’s message board right now. There were your customary comments voicing outrage, disgust or both. Some faithful viewers were a little chuffed at the sensational nature of the show, more fitting for Maury or Springer, they said. Others were annoyed at what they saw as nothing more than self-promotion (Beatie has a book coming out shortly). There is discussion around the definition of terms - “man” vs. “transgendered woman.”
[I admit I have not made it through all 137 pages (and growing) of comments, at least not tonight. But that’s only because I’m losing steam and it’s getting late. I may pick this back up in the a.m.]
I’m curious - if you watched the show, what do you think of the issue and do you think it was a topic “worthy” of Oprah’s time and attention? Should this be news, or no?
Tags: , assisted reproductive technology, fertility blog, Gabrielle Sedor, infertility, IVF, male pregnancy, Oprah, reproductive health, transgender, womens healthRelated Stories
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4 opinions for A Story “Worthy” of Oprah?
melis
Apr 7, 2008 at 12:58 am
I actually just now finished watching my tape of Thursday’s Oprah (and I’ll be happy to lend it to you Gab!). I honestly felt that Thomas and his wife truly do love each other and believed what they said about wanting the opportunity to tell their story instead of having it told for them. In truth, I thought a lot about you, Gab, during the program. It did make me a little mad that this person who had been taking action to make his exterior match the male feeling he felt inside match, should have what appeared to be a relatively easy time achiving something that you, not having been given a choice to give up the opportunity to have an unassisted natural child, is being challenged by. (I’m trying - probably too hard - to speak in the positive! LOL) I tend not to be someone who thinks of ulterior motives, but I can see that this is an opportunity for self promotion with Thomas’ up-coming book. Then again, as they mentioned, there’s a very real possibility they may have to go into hiding by the end of the pregnancy and with their newborn daughter. So why not increase your chances of being able to sustain your life and make a living in those circumstances? Certainly going on Oprah, as opposed to Maury or Springer gives their story a bit more street cred, if you will. Good or bad, Oprah’s got a following and people - perhaps a bit more main-stream than the stereotypical Maury/Springer audience - help with that idea. I appreciated that Oprah asked the questions I had - if un-necessarily - about Thomas’ physical changes in response to his taking testosterone. Ok - so your clit would turn into a small penis - but big enough for intercourse. Who knew? Perhaps that wasn’t necessary to the story, but damn it, I wanted to know. And maybe that’s part of why some people are bothered by how the story was handled. I can’t imagine being told that I had to be a girl, if I felt like I was a boy. Or that I had to like - date - marry - a man because that’s the way God - or whomever you believe in or what your family tells you - if I was interested in or in love with a woman.
One thing I do agree with, with all my heart, is something Thomas said toward the end of the show. “Different is normal. And Love makes a family.”
talina
Apr 7, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I saw something on it and thought that it was noting major, he was a she and still had female sex organs so of course he/ she could conceive a child. It is an odd story, but so are many other things in this world…
laurabc98
Apr 7, 2008 at 7:54 pm
it was ok; nothing out of the ordinary for oprah. she’s done plenty of shows on transgendered people and related issues. i don’t find it all that shocking. people who do are from iowa. lol. actually, the couple really seemed to be in love and the woman’s children were cool and as they all happily noted, “love makes a family.”
laurabc98
Apr 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm
hah! i just read melis’s post; i didn’t see that she noted the same thing at the end. :)
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