Thomas Beatie

ABC Again Touts Tale of Man Who 'Kept His Female Reproductive Organs'

"Good Morning America" on Wednesday continued to aggressively promote the story of the pregnant "man," featuring the show's sixth story since March 26. Once again, GMA co-host Chris Cuomo confusingly described the story of Thomas Beatie, a woman who took testosterone and had her breasts removed in a gender reassignment surgery in order to become a man.

On Wednesday, Cuomo explained, "The pregnant man, Thomas Beatie. He made headlines across the globe. Well, now, Beatie, who is biologically still a woman, has delivered a healthy baby." So, in other words, a woman gave birth to a baby? Perhaps describing the situation that way wouldn't have allowed GMA to devote six stories (thus far) to the topic. The segment was full of such puzzling statements. An ABC graphic screamed, "Pregnant Man's Baby: First Pictures of Susan Juliette." At one point, reporter Andrea Canning stated that Beatie, born Tracy LaGondino, had her breasts surgically removed and then, "...Still hoping to one day have a child, Thomas kept his female reproductive organs." His female reproductive organs?

GMA: Daughter of 'Pregnant Man' Will Have Normal Life

Thomas Beatie, ABC Mixed in with stories on cooking for the Fourth of July and how soldiers deployed in Iraq were spending their Independence Day, the July 4 "Good Morning America" managed to give nearly two full minutes to a story on Thomas Beatie, more commonly known as the "pregnant man," and "his" newly born daughter on Friday.

Unsurprisingly, the segment featured only a positive take on the situation, offering no sound bites questioning the normalcy of the child’s life. Reporter Ryan Owens touted, "The little girl's conception may have been complicated, but her parents insist her life now will be normal."

The designated "expert" of the segment, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, claimed:

ABCNews.com Headline: 'Pregnant Man' Has Baby Girl

Thomas Beatie, the transsexual "man" who was really born a woman, has garnered a lot of news coverage over the past few months because he is the first "man" to become pregnant. ABC promoted the "pregnant man" four times in two and half months on its morning show, "Good Morning America" while ABCNews.com also heavily promoted the story.

Well, Beatie recently gave birth and ABCNews.com jumped on the story and is treating Beatie like a celebrity. The front page features the headline "Exclusive: Pregnant Man Has Baby Girl" alongside a picture of the "man's" pregnant body.

The article states:

Who Needs The Carnival Side Show When You've Got ABCNews.com?

Screencap of ABCNews.com from June 9, 2008 | NewsBusters.orgI mean really, that must be the only explanation why ABCNews.com keeps showing us pictures of the so-called pregnant man. It must be a way for us to save gas. Why drive to the carnival in town to see the Bearded Lady when she's just a few clicks away on your computer?

This isn't the first time the Disney-owned network thought fit to put pictures of transsexual woman Thomas Beatie on its "top headlines" lineup. Back on May 21 the Web site teased pictures of Beatie as she "Labors... In Yard."

Perhaps as a peace offering or palette-cleanser, ABCNews.com is also featuring in its "top headlines" pictures of attractive Hollywood starlets in so-called Band-Aid dresses.

What say you? Slow news day, or is ABC just following the maxim that "sex sells"?

Can't Get Enough of the 'Pregnant Man'? ABCNews.com Has More Pics!

Thomas Beatie in screencap from ABCNews.com | NewsBusters.orgAdmit it. You just can't get enough of the world's first "pregnant man," transsexual Thomas Beatie. At least, ABC News thinks so.

Yeah, I know ABC's covered the story ad nauseum already, but you just can't beat pictures of a pregnant transsexual working on his/her lawn.

As featured in the Top Headlines section for ABCNews.com this afternoon:

"PHOTOS: Pregmant Man Labors... in Yard"

"Thomas Beatie, the world's first pregnant man, tends to his lawn," reads the caption of Beatie grasping a weed whacker.

Clicking on the link brings up a photo montage bearing the following warning:

WARNING: Some of the following pictures are of a graphic nature. Viewer discretion is advised.
(ABC)