A new documentary getting rave reviews tells the story of a single trans dad and his journey to becoming a parent by carrying his child.
Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth, by filmmaker Jeanie Finlay, profiles single trans dad Freddy McConnell. McConnell, a journalist who works for the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper, had wanted to share his story and was careful in choosing who told it. He told Out magazine, “It was very important for me to find these people that I could trust because I’ve seen lots of trans stories being told before, and not being told particularly well the majority of the time.” He and Finlay, who is cisgender, worked together to create a film that is neither simplistic nor sensationalized. He told the Guardian in a behind-the-scenes video about the film (see below), “Trans dads who give birth call themselves seahorse dads. It’s a word that we use for ourselves so it felt like a sort of continuation of the idea that this film was told with my consent and is meant to reflect the truth of my experience.”
McConnell recently lost a court case in the U.K. to be legally named his child’s “father” or “parent.” The court ruled that “The status of being a ‘mother’ arises from the role that a person has undertaken in the biological process of conception, pregnancy and birth,” and so McConnell could only legally be his child’s “mother.” (Yes, there’s a lot wrong with the court’s conclusion. I’ll have more to say on it in another piece.) The film, however, came before the court case and is a lovely and loving look at McConnell and his journey to parenthood.
The film is making the rounds on the film festival circuit in the U.S. and Europe, but only available for online streaming (so far) in the U.K., where you can watch it free for a limited time via BBC iPlayer. It’s also available via Vimeo on Demand, except in the U.S., Canada and Denmark, although the producer tells me it will be released in those areas soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on film festivals in your area. (This month, it’s slated for the Chicago International Film Festival in the U.S., the Margate Film Festival in the U.K., and the International Queer Film Festival in Hamburg, Germany.) ‘
Watch a trailer below, as well as the Guardian’s look behind the scenes.
For another recent film on trans parenthood, check out Just Another Beautiful Family, a short documentary available free online.
