In a new film and accompanying series of photos, Amsterdam-based documentary filmmaker and photographer Miriam Guttmann showcases the beauty of the pregnancies of four transgender men: Liam, Alex, Jerome and Ruben. The aim of the project is to confront biases viewers may hold about the way human bodies ought to look by challenging longstanding gendered stereotypes.
“In the entire animal kingdom, seahorses are the only animals where the males undergo pregnancy,” the exhibit’s description reads. “With the animal as a metaphor, pregnant transgender persons proudly call themselves ‘Seahorse Parents’.”
The description goes on: “How do these pregnant transgender men navigate a biased world? And what world do the parents hope to bring their children into?”
As Liam, one of the participants explained, his participation in the project was about bringing his story, and the stories of other trans men, to the foreground. “I want the viewer to see that trans and non-binary people are actually just people, and that we have the same desire to grow and love our families as cisgender people do,” he said. “Seahorse Parents is about putting our stories out into the world. It shows our budding families in the most beautiful light.”
The photo series and film are being presented by Foam as part of Queer & Pride Amsterdam 2023 to celebrate the image of pregnant transgender people.
Find a preview of Guttmann’s work below…