From Dante Alighieri and Beatrice Portinari to Romeo and Juliet to Xena and Gabrielle, there have been so many great love stories over the years, some real, some fictional. The point remains, however: Love conquers all. Recently, another tale has joined their ranks, that of two lovers from two different geographical locations, who came together as a couple in 2008.

A divorcee, Dade Barlow wed Tiffany Grimes four years later. But here’s the twist: Dade had married Tiffany once before…as a woman. This heartwarming story of a lesbian and transgender man – who was transitioning at the time – proves that love transcends everything. Here is Dade’s and Tiffany’s story.

Two Weddings And …No Divorce

When they first met, Dade and Tiffany had no idea they would have two weddings. They married first in 2010 as a lesbian couple and then in 2012 as husband and wife. However, the journey would be filled with doubt, and the couple could feel their love almost shattering along the way.

Though they grew up far apart, Dade in Arizona and Tiffany in Nevada, once they’d met in 2008, nothing could separate them. Back then, Dade identified as a female and had left her family and former faith to rebuild his life. The two often spent together in a sunny Oregon house.

Dade Realized She Was Transgender

In 2010, Dade Barlow watched a documentary about being transgender and realized that this film was about her. She’d never heard the word “transgender” before; in fact, she’d only been slightly aware that some people were gay. But this word completely described what she was struggling with.

During her childhood, Barlow used to feel like G.I. Joe dressed as a girl while playing with her sister and even said things like “I am a boy.” Her sister seemed so comfortable in her body, but Barlow felt weird in the body of a woman, having always thought of herself as masculine.

The Couple Remarried After Dade’s Transition

Two years after the first wedding, Dade successfully transitioned, and he and Tiffany legally remarried as man and wife at city hall. They’d overcome a difficult time and were very happy. Their struggle taught them a lot, and now they give advice to all young couples.

Dade and Tiffany are known for saying that a strong relationship requires compromise with the other partner and never leaving each other, no matter how impossible the situation may seem. Having officially become husband and wife, they’re now ready to start a new life together.

Their Both Had Conservative Upbringing

When asked about it, Dade explained that he and his sister were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses, but he was a free spirit. According to him, his faith and family prevented him from expressing his masculinity, so he didn’t have the chance to be like other boys his age.

Tiffany came from lovely Calaveras County, California, which had a population of only 300. When she was young, she had boyfriends like every other girl and didn’t miss out on prom, either. But she never forgot how her father would turn off the TV whenever a gay character was featured.

They Discovered Their True Feelings

At age 25, Dade eventually concluded that he didn’t really belong in his family or his faith. Even though he was married, he knew he had feelings for women. Therefore, he asked his partner for a divorce, which was granted. He then moved to southern Oregon, where he started an electrical engineering business.

When she was 27 years old, Tiffany’s realization also came after she got married. During a normal conversation that day with her husband, she said, “I think I’m gay,” and he accepted her decision. It made her sad to divorce him, but she believed it was for the best.

Dade Was Born A Woman But Always Felt Different

Dade recalled that he couldn’t keep living a life full of lies and restrictions. Back when he identified as a female, he had been named Tiffany too but had never loved being a girl. His mother used to call him “little butterfly,” which he detested.

He’d loved wearing boy clothes since he was three years old and started wearing coats to hide his figure as he grew older. Dade didn’t understand his attraction to women, so he dated men too. His marriage at the age of 18 was really to convince himself he was “normal”.

Tiffany’s Family Opposed Her Coming Out At First

After Tiffany’s family found out she had gotten a divorce because she was a lesbian, their relationship became strained. Her mother, Barbara, recalled the pastor in church saying that being gay was sinful, so she was shocked when she heard that her daughter had come out.

In the end, though, Barbara just hugged Tiffany and told her that her being different wouldn’t divide the family. Tiffany’s father also shared that he and his wife had considered making her straight again but then thought better of it. They loved their daughter enough to let her make her own choices.

Dade And Tiffany Met Online

When Dade and Tiffany’s journey started in 2008, they connected over Craigslist’s email service. The first time they met in person was at a lesbian event called “Lez Get Together” in southern Oregon. Tiffany Grimes said that she was attracted to Tiffany Barlow the moment she saw her.

Grimes felt drawn toward the electrician Barlow, whom she found to be beautiful, super-intelligent, and kind of shy. Plus, she had an awesome bike. Grimes knew that this was the woman she wanted and that she would do everything in her power to get her.

They Took It Slow At First

Planning a date was somehow tricky for Grimes because her new partner was such an introvert. They would go ride on Barlow’s bike to the mountain, absorbing the beauty of their surroundings, but Barlow was too shy to make a move. Grimes knew it would be up to her.

One day, the perfect moment finally arrived. The couple had just returned from a ride when Grimes got down from the bike, removed Barlow’s helmet, and suddenly planted a kiss on her lips. That moment sparked their eternal love. Six months later, they started living together.

Their First Union Was Not Recognized As A Legal Marriage

While talking about children one day, Grimes suddenly realized how wonderful it would be to have a baby with Barlow. So, on Thursday, December 31, 2009, Grimes proposed to Barlow. She’d gotten the rings beforehand and written a poem. Barlow’s reply, of course, was “Yes, no question.”

That was all the confirmation Grimes and Barlow needed. On September 4, 2010, they made their vows at Agate Ridge Vineyard, owned by the Kinderman family in southern Oregon. Their union was regarded as a domestic partnership because Oregon had not yet recognized gay marriages.

Barlow’s True Desire Rocked Their Relationship

Throughout their marriage, Barlow hid from Grimes that she wished she were male. Barlow didn’t want to lose her wife, but she eventually got tired of all the deception. Therefore, she told Grimes everything over a lunch date, finally revealing that she wanted to transition into a man.

By the time Barlow had finished this unexpected revelation, Grimes was shocked and speechless. She felt that Barlow had cheated her throughout their entire relationship, that even though she had left everything for Barlow, she had been tricked into thinking she was marrying a woman.

They Started Drifting Apart Shortly After

Grimes and Barlow didn’t discuss the subject of transition again for eight to nine months. Grimes would think Barlow had moved on, but then they would somehow start talking about it and end up fighting. Barlow still wanted a transition, but the worst part was that she was completely alone.

Barlow’s family and friends had left her when she had changed her religion. Grimes had given her the support she needed, but now she had also abandoned her. Barlow began to slip into depression, thinking that the only option left for her was to commit suicide.

Grimes Eventually Came Around

Everything had gone wrong. The transition was very important to Barlow, but Grimes felt like she was sacrificing her dreams of being accepted and having a family as a lesbian. A while later, they found a great counselor named Audrey, who’d already dealt with several cases in the transgender community.

After Audrey provided her much-needed expertise, Grimes finally agreed to the transition, making peace with the fact that her wife was gone and never coming back. The first five to six months were hard for her, but later she decided to support Barlow in every way.

The Long Road To Transition

The first thing Barlow did was take a male name – Dade. Dade’s transition started in November 2011. The process began with hormonal changes. His body started growing more hair, his voice deepened, and he became more muscular. In April 2012, he got a double mastectomy.

Tiffany was worried that now that Dade was becoming a man, she wouldn’t be physically attracted to him. To her relief, that never happened. In October 2014, Dade underwent complete gender reassignment surgery to create functional male parts and be fully transformed into a man.

They Now Have The Perfect Family…

After facing difficult hurdles in their relationship, today Dade and Tiffany are living a joyful and successful life with their three-year-old daughter, Zane. Tiffany played an important role in their happy ending just by compromising with Dade. She chose to get pregnant through several rounds of intrauterine insemination with donated sperm.

The happy family of three are now living independently of anyone else. Daddy Dade and Mommy Tiffany look just like any other contented parents as they pose with their little bundle of joy. Their story is yet another reminder that love really does conquer all.

…And Live Happily Ever After

Through the years, Dade and Tiffany faced several hardships. But their love overcame all obstacles, and they emerged as winners in the game of life. Whether it was embracing the truth about themselves or accepting each other’s flaws, they did it all with their heads held high.

Their trust and compromise have given them a happy life with their three-year-old daughter, and their love story is quite famous all over the internet. Dade and Tiffany have shown that sincere partners can pass any test in their relationship, even when the feat seems insurmountable.