This Trans Bride and Her Prince Are Turning Heads

Eusabia Dominguez became one of the first out transgender brides in New Mexico when she married fiance Jason Gilbert Saturday.

"Our daily activities consist of working, making dinner, enjoying time with each other, sharing chores, being with loved ones. Oh yeah, and loving our cat, Buck Meow," Eusabia says of how she and Jason, of Las Cruces, N.M., spend their days. That sounds pretty "normal" considering the hurdles the two have faced to be together.

Eusabia, 34, is from Las Cruces. She transitioned at 17 and went on to graduate from Empire Beauty College in Phoenix. She is now a licensed cosmetologist and freelance makeup artist.

Jason, 36, is from Cortland, N.Y. He is employed in construction and working towards his general contractors license.

"I first met Jason 13 years ago after I had gone through a horrible breakup," Eusabia says. "We met on a singles site and got to hang out a few times but nothing came of it. He was homeless and I wasn't emotionally ready to be in a relationship, so we lost touch."

After a few years and a few job changes, during the time when Eusabia earned her cosmetology license, she happened to see him once again. "I was driving home [from work] one day and at a street light I saw Jason on a bike cross my path. My heart stopped and every day after that I would take the same road with the hopes of seeing him again -- but no luck."

The couple finally reconnected in November 2013.

"I was on a singles site just trying to make friends and not really interested in any suitors," Eusabia remembers. "But one stuck out and his persistence peaked my interest. We began talking and comparing notes as to my arrival in Phoenix and where I lived. Come to find out we knew each other and had been looking for one another for a very long time."

After they relocated from Phoenix to Las Cruces together last October, Jason asked Eusabia to marry him.

"When we moved from Phoenix, I made a promise to myself that I would ask her no matter what and that I would do it soon," Jason shares. "I took her to Wal-Mart on my payday and I asked what kind of rings she liked. I acted like nothing after that and went about our business. When we were leaving the parking lot I stopped, jumped out, and asked her to marry me. I was so nervous, but at the same time proud and happy that I finally did it."

The wedding took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Las Cruces. Many community sponsors stepped forward to assist them with the wedding details, such as the host hotel, Las Cruces Flowers, The Elegant Penguin Tuxedo Rentals, and Bridal Novias. After the ceremony, wedding guests will be transported to Touch Bar, also one of the weddings sponsors who will provide them with VIP treatment. The wedding was even covered by the local news (see report below).

"It was meant to be," Eusabia says. "I feel my heart was not ready and he was not ready to take the plunge and be with a trans woman. Now older, more mature, and ready to be with one another, there is nothing that has kept us apart."

"I knew I loved Eusabia way back. I found her, made her mine, and took her off the market," Jason says with a laugh.