Man (woman) is pregnant.

Okay. I have serious beef with this bun in the oven (applause for triple-pun use). I was on a business trip, in a bar when I saw the news clip: "First pregnant Man." Whaaaat? I swiveled my chair, tuned out the salesman and paid attention. I have always wanted this (when I was puking every 30 minutes and had to take Zofran for 5 months, I kept warning my husband this day would come, and I would throw him into the vast test trials.) I find it fascinating and frightening what the medical arena is churning out. (stem cells from teeth...c'mon,who thunk that up?)And..surprise, surprise. It's a big-media spin. Sigh.

Look, I get it. I understand the need for generating interest, perhaps even sensationalizing things to compete with 24 hour news channels, but can we get serious here? This is a WOMAN who had her boobs removed, took testosterone to be a he, but kept her uterus. More power to him. They want a family, and they have that right, as they should. But not only is describing it to you a pronoun nightmare, it is a waste of my time. Don't get me wrong. I am annoyed for reasons you probably aren't imagining. Would it be difficult to explain to my child? Sure, but that shouldn't effect what someone else wants to do with their

body. Does it seem a bit self-aggrandizing to see a picture of this woman posed like Demi Moore trying to generate awareness? A little. But What is the awareness? That women can have babies? I knew that.

I am honestly more disappointed in the media-whoring of the story. If I am being honest, It is a poignant personal journey. Fine. But the story wasn't positioned that way when I first heard it, at least not on the several news clips or articles I saw. Nope. "Trans-gender man nearly dies of ectopic pregnancy and reattempts with at-home artificial insemination with success" would sound "too freaky" yet "Pregnant Man" has sizzle! How is this more important than war, a possible recession, Autism, the alarming number of women having mastectomies out of clinical need, not identity. (just to name a few)

I am liberal. VERY liberal. Build it, chop it, give it a name. Be married, have children, love one another, practice acceptance and compassion. I merely want to know how this story blows up, while several pressing issues in our nation, our world, and concerning our children end up on a small font TV screen-roll, or not at all. I never claim to have the answers, and I can be as trite as the next gal. Perhaps this post slides off a little contradictory, but my point is this. News lately is either inane or fear-driven, I would love for us to have conversations about things that matter. I give it my best shot most of the time.

I'm just saying now that they have my eyes and ears,this kind of story blitz begs the questions: "What am I paying attention to?"

Original Chicago Moms Blog post.