Pregnant and Transgendered

Producer: Discovery Channel
Release Year: 2009

In 2009, the Discovery Channel aired a one-off documentary titled Pregnant and Transgendered, which captured the extraordinary journey of a transgender couple, Cai and Emily, as they navigated the challenges of pregnancy and parenthood in a way that defied traditional notions of gender, biology, and family dynamics. The documentary follows the couple’s story, chronicling their emotional, physical, and social experiences as they face the prospect of becoming parents together, despite the unique circumstances of their lives.

 

The film centers on the remarkable real-life situation in which Cai, a female-to-male (FTM) transgender man, unexpectedly becomes pregnant, even though he has been undergoing testosterone hormone therapy to transition to a male gender identity. His wife, Emily, a male-to-female (MTF) transgender woman, is the biological father of their child. The story of their pregnancy challenges conventional ideas about gender, reproduction, and the family, offering a nuanced exploration of the intersections between identity, sexuality, and parenthood in the transgender community.

 

Cai and Emily's relationship is at the heart of the documentary, and their personal stories provide an intimate look into their lives as transgender individuals. The couple, who met after both had transitioned, describe their love for each other as something that transcends the boundaries of gender. Emily, who was born biologically male, transitioned to female through hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgeries. Cai, born biologically female, transitioned to male through testosterone treatment and top surgery (a procedure to remove the breasts).

 

Despite their gender transitions, they are deeply in love and have chosen to build a life together. The documentary is set against the backdrop of their desire to have a family. The couple had initially assumed that having biological children would be out of the question for them, as both had undergone gender-affirming medical treatments that made traditional reproduction more difficult or impossible. However, Cai, who had stopped testosterone therapy to undergo fertility treatment, was able to conceive with Emily, resulting in an unexpected pregnancy. While the pregnancy itself is unconventional - Cai’s pregnancy challenges the stereotype that only cisgender women can carry a child - it is also a profound expression of the couple’s bond, their willingness to embrace the complexity of their identities, and their commitment to creating a family together. Their story speaks to the larger LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing efforts to carve out spaces where all forms of love, partnership, and parenthood are not only accepted but celebrated.

 

Pregnant and Transgendered stands out as a rare and important contribution to the media representation of transgender people. While there have been growing portrayals of transgender individuals in popular culture, especially in recent years, much of the public discourse around transgender issues has focused on the challenges of transitioning, navigating gender identity, and dealing with discrimination. However, the film’s focus on parenthood from a transgender perspective was, at the time, an underrepresented theme. The documentary tackles the complexities of gender identity in relation to pregnancy, shedding light on the experiences of transgender individuals who wish to become parents.

 

The fact that Cai is a transgender man who carries a pregnancy is a poignant reminder of the diversity within the transgender community and the wide range of personal experiences that exist. The story serves as a direct challenge to the often limited and binary conceptions of gender in popular media, showing that parenthood is not confined to cisgender women or men, but is a deeply personal and universal experience. One of the key points the documentary addresses is the issue of social perceptions and the stigma that transgender individuals often face. Cai and Emily's pregnancy challenges both cisgender and transgender stereotypes. For Cai, his pregnancy is complicated by both external and internal factors. As a transgender man, he is often viewed as a "man" in public, despite the fact that he is pregnant, which places him in an ambiguous position in society. His experience underscores the discomfort and misunderstanding that many transgender people face when their bodies do not align with social expectations of their gender.

 

The documentary also delves into the physical and emotional challenges that Cai faces throughout his pregnancy. While Cai is undergoing testosterone therapy, which suppresses the menstrual cycle, the hormonal treatments did not entirely prevent his ability to conceive. After stopping testosterone therapy to undergo fertility treatments, Cai was able to get pregnant through artificial insemination. The documentary emphasizes how the transition process, which includes hormone therapy, top surgery, and other medical interventions, complicates the experience of pregnancy. Cai’s pregnancy becomes a poignant reminder that gender and biology are not always aligned in predictable ways.

 

Throughout the pregnancy, Cai grapples with the physical changes occurring in his body, including weight gain, morning sickness, and changes to his voice, which is often an issue for transgender men who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy. These changes complicate his sense of self, forcing him to navigate not only the societal expectations of gender but also his own feelings about his identity and body. For Cai, the pregnancy is a deeply emotional and sometimes difficult experience, as he contemplates the ways in which the pregnancy challenges his masculinity and how he fits into the larger narrative of fatherhood. Emily, for her part, also confronts her own challenges as a transgender woman in the context of parenthood. As the biological father of their child, Emily must reconcile her gender identity with her role in the conception and the life they are about to bring into the world. The couple’s relationship is marked by open and honest communication as they support each other through this unusual and sometimes difficult experience. The documentary shows the tenderness and love that the couple shares, even as they face the uncertainty and stress of an unorthodox pregnancy.

 

One of the key themes explored in Pregnant and Transgendered is the couple's interaction with the outside world. The documentary highlights the reactions from family, friends, and society at large, showcasing the challenges that transgender individuals face in terms of acceptance and understanding. Cai and Emily’s families had to navigate their own feelings about the pregnancy, with some members struggling to understand the complexity of the situation. The couple’s experience reflects the broader challenges faced by transgender people in gaining acceptance within their families, as well as the sometimes complicated relationships that can arise when family members must come to terms with their loved one’s gender identity. The couple also faces public scrutiny, as their pregnancy goes against conventional societal expectations of both gender and parenthood. For transgender men like Cai, who are seen as "men" in many parts of society, the idea of pregnancy can be difficult for others to process, as it challenges the norms about who is "allowed" to be pregnant. The documentary provides an opportunity for viewers to reconsider preconceived notions about gender and parenthood and offers a space for compassion and understanding.

 

Pregnant and Transgendered is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that challenges viewers to think differently about gender, identity, and family. By following the journey of Cai and Emily, the film provides a rare and intimate look at the experiences of a transgender couple navigating pregnancy and parenthood, showing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to what it means to be a parent. The documentary is a testament to the complexity of the transgender experience and the deep, unconditional love that transcends gender and biology. The film also serves as a reminder that LGBTQ+ families, including transgender families, are just as deserving of recognition and support as any other family. As transgender individuals continue to assert their rights to parenthood, Pregnant and Transgendered remains a seminal moment in the representation of transgender people in the media. By telling the story of a transgender couple’s journey to parenthood, the documentary invites viewers to rethink their assumptions about gender, love, and the possibilities of family, offering a profound message of acceptance and inclusivity.

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Image credits: YouTube