Bennett Kaspar-Williams, from Los Angeles, made headlines after sharing his experience of giving birth to his son, Hudson, in October 2020. Bennett, who identified as a transgender man at the time and used he/him pronouns, said he was repeatedly referred to as a mother by hospital nurses, despite specifying his gender on medical paperwork. The experience left him feeling uncomfortable during what should have been a special moment for his family.

Bennett began his transition in 2014 and had been taking testosterone, but paused the treatment when he and his husband, Malik, decided to have a child. After considering their options, Bennett chose to carry the pregnancy himself and became pregnant naturally. Their son was delivered by Cesarean section during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding another layer of anxiety to an already emotional experience.

He later explained that the pregnancy itself was not what caused his discomfort. Instead, it was the repeated misgendering during medical appointments and after delivery. Bennett argued that pregnancy and motherhood should not automatically be treated as the same thing, pointing out that not every woman can or wants to have children, and not everyone who gives birth identifies as a mother.

His story sparked conversations about how hospitals communicate with transgender patients and the importance of respecting people’s names and pronouns. Bennett has since identified as non-binary and uses both he/him and they/them pronouns. His experience highlights the need for compassionate and respectful maternity care, especially during such an important and vulnerable time in a family’s life.