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.
Early life
editColeman 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
editAfter 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
editColeman 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
editColeman 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]
References
edit- ^ "About". Kayden X Coleman. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ a b Moore, Elizabeth Armstrong. "A decade into sex-change, a surprise pregnancy". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ "The Road Toward Equality is Always Better With Family". www.out.com. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "See All the Names From the 2021 Out100 List Here". www.out.com. 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ a b Multicultural Couples Debate On Raising Their Children | 2 Cultures, 1 Couple, 3 March 2020, retrieved 2022-03-11
- ^ a b c "Birthright: Kayden Coleman's Birthright: How He Found Black Birth Joy as a Trans Father on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ a b So I'm Pregnant... AGAIN, 13 February 2020, retrieved 2022-03-12
- ^ Kayden & Dom Ep. 3: Jurnee Is Here!, 6 August 2020, retrieved 2022-03-12
- ^ Rach, Jessica. "Transgender man expecting his second child after falling pregnant by 'happy accident'". Parent. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ "Trans Bodies, Trans Choices: Having a Baby - IG Live Replay". TransLash. May 6, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Staff, G. W. K. "Kayden Coleman's Mission: Help Other Trans Masculine Folks Navigate Pregnancy". www.gayswithkids.com. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ a b López, Canela. "A trans father says he was offered multiple abortions while pregnant". Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ "The Evolution of Family: Kayden Coleman & Dominique Glinton". www.out.com. 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ FTM Introducing..., 9 January 2014, retrieved 2022-03-12
- ^ 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.