Why did Beatie retain his female sex organs?
Only a small number of female to male transsexuals undergo genital surgery because – at best – the results only vaguely resemble a penis. According to transgender activist Christine Burns “manufactured penises still look a bit odd”. Some may not work well enough to urinate let alone function sexually. The quip among gender reassignment surgeons is: “It’s easier to build a hole than a pole.” The cost of the procedure – around £50,000 ($100,000) – is also a deterrent in the US, where surgery is not covered by health insurance schemes. Consultant psychiatrist James Barrett, who specialises in gender identity disorders, said it is “highly unusual” for a woman who has undergone a sex change to want to get pregnant because that does not fit with their new gender role. But Beatie told the Oprah Winfrey Show: “I feel it’s not a male or female desire to have a child. It’s a human need. I’m a person and I have the right to have a biological child.” When did he give birth? Beatie went into labour
