Kayden Coleman

Last updated

Kayden Coleman (born July 5, 1986) is an American transgender advocate, educator, and social media influencer. [1] He is known for raising awareness of transmen who experience pregnancy. In 2013, when Coleman was 4 years into gender reassignment therapy, he found out he was pregnant with his and his partner's first child. [2] Since then, Coleman has been interviewed by news outlets such as USA Today, TODAY.com, and Out about his experiences with transgender pregnancy. [2] [3] [4] In 2021, he was honored by Out as an Out100 honoree, a recognition given to prominent members of the LGBTQ+ community for their outstanding work promoting LGBTQ+ rights. [5] He has appeared in a commercial for Lexus.

Contents

Early life

Coleman was born on July 5, 1986. He is of Jamaican and African descent. [6] As a child who was assigned female at birth, Coleman experienced feelings of gender dysphoria, which led to his later gender transition. [6]

Health and transition

After the birth of his first daughter, Coleman reported he experienced postpartum depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other after-effects of childbirth, which led him to seek out doulas who helped him alleviate his symptoms. [7]

Coleman first began testosterone hormone therapy in January 2009. He underwent breast reduction surgery, better known today as top surgery, in March 2013. [7] To do so, he paused hormone treatment and as a result became pregnant in early 2013. He did not become aware of his pregnancy for five and a half months. [7] In February 2020, Coleman announced his second pregnancy. He gave birth to his second daughter later that summer. [8] [9]

Coleman refuses to undergo genital reconstructive surgery, known more colloquially as bottom surgery, citing issues in regard to cost, health complications, and sexual pleasure. [10]

In November 2021, Coleman was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. [11]

Career and activism

Coleman is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, with specific focus on fertility and pregnancy issues that affect Black, gay, and transmasculine individuals. He calls himself "Papa Seahorse," as male seahorses are known for carrying fertilized eggs. [12] He has been vocal about the racism and transphobia that he has faced in the American medical system, sharing that a few of his medical providers have suggested that he undergo an abortion. [13] He has spoken about being misgendered by medical professionals, as well as his difficulty in accessing classes for birthing, chest feeding, and postpartum support groups, because they were labeled as women's spaces and thus were inaccessible to men. [13]

He and his partner, Dominique Glinton, have appeared in a commercial for Lexus, titled "The Evolution of Family," in which they share their experiences of fatherhood. [14]

Personal life

Coleman married his first husband, Elijah, in 2013. Coleman gave birth to their daughter, Azaelia Skye, in early 2014. [15] In January 2020, Coleman announced his second pregnancy with his partner, Dominique. [8] Their daughter, Jurnee, was born later that year. [16]

Related Research Articles

Obstetrics and gynaecology is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics and gynaecology. The specialization is an important part of care for women's health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans man</span> Man assigned female at birth

A trans man is a man who was assigned female at birth. Trans men have a male gender identity, and many trans men undergo medical and social transition to alter their appearance in a way that aligns with their gender identity or alleviates gender dysphoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Walsh (political commentator)</span> American right-wing political activist (born 1986)

Matt Walsh is an American right-wing political activist, author, podcaster, and columnist. He is the host of The Matt Walsh Show podcast and is a columnist for the American conservative website The Daily Wire. He has authored four books and starred in The Daily Wire online documentary film What Is a Woman?.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male pregnancy</span> Pregnancy in males

Male pregnancy is the incubation of one or more embryos or fetuses by organisms of the male sex in some species. Most species that reproduce by sexual reproduction are heterogamous—females producing larger gametes (ova) and males producing smaller gametes (sperm). In nearly all animal species, offspring are carried by the female until birth, but in fish of the family Syngnathidae, males perform that function.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgender rights in Iran</span>

Transgender rights in Iran are limited, with a narrow degree of official recognition of transgender identities by the government, but with trans individuals facing very high levels of discrimination, from the law, the state, and from the wider society.

Various topics in medicine relate particularly to the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals as well as other sexual and gender minorities. According to the US National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, these areas include sexual and reproductive health, mental health, substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, HIV-related cancers, intimate partner violence, issues surrounding marriage and family recognition, breast and cervical cancer, inequities in healthcare and access to care. In medicine, various nomenclature, including variants of the acronym LGBTQIA+, are used as an umbrella term to refer to individuals who are non-heterosexual, non-heteroromantic, or non-cis gendered. Specific groups within this community have their own distinct health concerns, however are often grouped together in research and discussions. This is primarily because these sexual and gender minorities groups share the effects of stigmatization based on their gender identity or expression, and/or sexual orientation or affection orientation. Furthermore, there are subpopulations among LGBTQIA+ groups based on factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, and age, all of which can impact healthcare outcomes.

In the United States, the rights of transgender people vary considerably by jurisdiction. In recent decades, there has been an expansion of federal, state, and local laws and rulings to protect transgender Americans; however, many rights remain unprotected, and some rights are being eroded. Since 2020, there has been a national movement by conservative/right-wing politicians and organizations to target transgender rights. There has been a steady increase in the number of anti-transgender bills introduced each year, especially in Republican-led states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Mosier</span> American triathlete (born 1980)

Chris Mosier is an American advocate for transgender rights and competitive triathlete, duathlete, and racewalker. He started his athletic career before transitioning, started his transition in 2010, and in 2015 earned a spot on the Team USA sprint duathlon men's team for the 2016 World Championship in the men's 35-39 age group division, making him the first known out trans athlete to join a U.S. national team different from his sex at birth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Beatie</span> Speaker, author, and transgender advocate

Thomas Trace Beatie is an American public speaker, author, and advocate of transgender rights and sexuality issues, with a focus on transgender fertility and reproductive rights.

Parental leave is regulated in the United States by US labor law and state law. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually for parents of newborn or newly adopted children if they work for a company with 50 or more employees. As of October 1, 2020, the same policy has been extended to caregivers of sick family members, or a partner in direct relation to the birth of the child therefore responsible for the care of the mother. Although 12 weeks are allowed to them, on average American fathers only take 10 days off, due to financial need. Beginning in 2020, California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island required paid parental leave to employees, including those a part of 50 or less employees. There is no paid paternity leave in the United States currently.

Transgender pregnancy is the gestation of one or more embryos or fetuses by transgender people. As of 2023, the possibility is restricted to those born with female reproductive systems. However, transition-related treatments may impact fertility. Transgender men and nonbinary people who are or wish to become pregnant face social, medical, legal, and psychological concerns. As uterus transplantations are currently experimental, and none have successfully been performed on trans women, they cannot become pregnant.

<i>Two 4 One</i> 2014 Canadian film

Two 4 One is a 2014 Canadian comedy-drama film that marks the debut of Victoria, British Columbia filmmaker Maureen Bradley. The film stars Gavin Crawford as Adam, a trans man who agrees to have a one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend Miriam during which he uses a mail order at-home pregnancy kit to artificially inseminate her with donated sperm. However, an accident during the encounter leaves both Adam and Miriam pregnant, forcing Adam, who has not yet completed the surgical phase of his gender transition, to confront the ways in which the pregnancy will influence his sense of gender identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Kirczenow</span> Canadian politician

Trevor Kirczenow is a transgender health researcher and diabetes healthcare advocate. He is an author and community organizer in the field of LGBTQ lactation and infant feeding. He has run twice as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chella Man</span> American actor, artist, model

Chella Man is an American actor, model, artist, YouTuber, and LGBTQ activist. He is known for sharing his experiences as a transgender, deaf, Asian, and Jewish person of color. Man rose to wider prominence in 2019 for portraying mute superhero Jericho in the second season of the DC Universe series Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddy McConnell</span> Multimedia journalist

Alfred Reuben McConnell is an English multimedia journalist who writes about transgender rights in the United Kingdom. He is best known for being a transgender man who has given birth. The experience leading to his giving birth is detailed in the 2019 documentary Seahorse that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robina Asti</span> American flight instructor and transgender advocate (1921–2021)

Robina Fedora Asti was an American flight instructor and advocate for women's and transgender rights. Her advocacy changed government rules to allow transgender people to receive Social Security survivor benefits. In July 2020, Asti was awarded two Guinness World Records for being the oldest active pilot and active flight instructor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use of assisted reproductive technology by LGBT people</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people people wishing to have children may use assisted reproductive technology. In recent decades, developmental biologists have been researching and developing techniques to facilitate same-sex reproduction.

Discrimination against transgender men and transmasculine individuals, sometimes referred to as transandrophobia, anti-transmasculinity, or transmisandry, is a similar concept to transmisogyny and discrimination against non-binary people. Transmisogyny, discrimination against transgender men and discrimination against non-binary people are types of transphobia which affect trans women, trans men and non-binary people respectively.

Mars Elliot Wright is an American clothing designer who owns an LGBTQ-themed fashion company.

Aydian Dowling is an American YouTuber, entrepreneur, model, fitness and life coach, and transgender activist. He began his YouTube channel in 2009 to document his journey taking testosterone and experience as a transgender man. In 2015, Aydian was featured on the cover of FTM Magazine recreating a nude photo of Adam Levine, which led to the rise of his modeling career. Aydian won the Reader's Choice Award in the 2015 Men's Health "Ultimate Men's Health Guy", and was featured on the special edition cover in November 2015. He was the first transgender man to be featured on a cover of Men's Health. He was subsequently featured on the covers of both Gay Times magazine and IN Magazine in 2016.

References

  1. "About". Kayden X Coleman. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  2. 1 2 Moore, Elizabeth Armstrong. "A decade into sex-change, a surprise pregnancy". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  3. "'A lot of trauma': Trans parents say medical system isn't set up for their pregnancies". TODAY.com. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  4. "The Road Toward Equality is Always Better With Family". www.out.com. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  5. "See All the Names From the 2021 Out100 List Here". www.out.com. 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  6. 1 2 Multicultural Couples Debate On Raising Their Children | 2 Cultures, 1 Couple , retrieved 2022-03-11
  7. 1 2 3 "Birthright: Kayden Coleman's Birthright: How He Found Black Birth Joy as a Trans Father on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  8. 1 2 So I'm Pregnant... AGAIN , retrieved 2022-03-12
  9. Kayden & Dom Ep. 3: Jurnee Is Here! , retrieved 2022-03-12
  10. Rach, Jessica. "Transgender man expecting his second child after falling pregnant by 'happy accident'". Parent. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  11. "Trans Bodies, Trans Choices: Having a Baby - IG Live Replay". TransLash. May 6, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  12. Staff, G. W. K. "Kayden Coleman's Mission: Help Other Trans Masculine Folks Navigate Pregnancy". www.gayswithkids.com. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  13. 1 2 López, Canela. "A trans father says he was offered multiple abortions while pregnant". Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  14. "The Evolution of Family: Kayden Coleman & Dominique Glinton". www.out.com. 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  15. FTM Introducing... , retrieved 2022-03-12
  16. Morris, Natalie (2021-06-04). "Trans man with two kids says he let people think pregnancy bump was a beer belly". Metro. Retrieved 2022-03-12.