A man who now identifies as a woman is marrying a woman who now identifies as a man. They are the first transgender couple to appear on Say Yes to the Dress in an episode Cosmo contributor Hannah Smothers called “historic.”
After fiancé Jaden proposed, Gabrielle Gibson applied to be featured on the TLC show, where brides skim through racks of dresses to find the special gown for their big day. Gibson was accepted onto the show shortly thereafter.
Although Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta featured a transgender bride in January 2016, this will be the first time that the original show features one.
Refinery29's Meghan Demaria applauded Say Yes's "huge move for equality," while Huffington Post queer voices writer Curtis Wong cheered the "breaking of fresh ground."
“I just wanted to have an experience,” Gibson told People magazine, “and to show that we as trans people can love and be loved, in a normal setting, and do things that are not out of the norm.”
Gibson’s desire dovetails well with liberal media, fashion and Hollywood’s focused attempt to mainstream transgender and gender fluid content.
On March 5, 2017, the New York Times Sunday Styles column featured two articles about transgender models. Transgender fashion icons Hari Nef and Carmen Carrera, entertainer Laverne Cox, TV shows like Transparent, and films like The Danish Girl have each received considerable media coverage.
