Maddie & Kylie

Maddie (Age 27)

KYLIE (Age 27)

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

MARRIED

LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT

Maddie and Mason were America’s sweethearts. They met in their rural small town several hours outside of Louisville (the big city!) Maddie was raised in the country surrounded by animals, she was a rodeo queen and worked with horses. Mason was a preppy, traditional guy who voted for Trump in the first election. The couple has been together for seven years and married for three years. They met in college, and from their first date they each texted their friends that they would marry the other! And indeed they did!

These two bonded on every level, and were known to be THAT couple who couldn’t be away from one another. Interestingly, they discovered that they were both born in the same hospital two days apart! (Written in the stars?!) When these two were engaged their engagement photos even went viral online. However, in the past year, a major life change has made their already close relationship even closer. If that’s possible.

Mason has realized that he never felt at home in his body and is transitioning from male to female. Mason now goes by the name Kylie and uses she/her pronouns. Where this transition could break many couples, Maddie loves Kylie so much that she is staying with her and loves her regardless of her being a woman. Although this transition comes with its many challenges and tests, it is only bringing this couple closer.

And YES they are CLOSE! They started to see a therapist because they were so attached to each other. They felt like it might be unhealthy so they sought out counseling, and yes, their suspicions were confirmed. The therapist thought that they were too attached, codependent and could benefit from some healthy independence. Although they admit that they relationship is perhaps unhealthily close, they don’t stop. Their love language is physical touch, so much so that they bought themselves a massage table so that they could give each other long, romantic massages with candles and body lotions. It’s usually Kylie massaging Maddie’s butt…It’s her favorite thing! Kylie will even write romantic bed time stories that she reads to Maddie before they go to sleep. This couple has also taken on each other’s hobbies, Maddie has taken up an interest in Muy Thai and therefore so has Kylie. When Kylie started running so did Maddie. It’s everything! They even share a tooth brush. Yuck.

This transition has not been accepted by everyone in Kylie and Maddie’s life. Kylie’s traditional and conservative family is barely speaking to Kylie due to her transition. It’s been a struggle for the couple as they witness friends and family members who were supposedly rock-steady support fall from their life due to lack of acceptance. Naturally, Kylie has questioned her actions and whether she should come out. She’s been forced to choose between her authenticate self, her happiness and her family. A lose-lose scenario. However, Maddie will NOT force the person she loves to make that choice. She is staying with her and loving her through this transition. Many people, including Maddie’s mother, do not understand or accept their relationship, thus creating drama and turmoil for the couple. They try to navigate it as best as they can, looking for allies and support but in South, that can be hard to do.

Kylie is a less than a year from coming out as female and is dipping her toes into a transition. She currently presents as a woman at home and in public. She plans to go on hormones, get female vocal training and looking into gender reassignment surgery. Maddie will be with Kylie every step of the way. Maddie actually LOVES and CELEBRATES the ultra-feminine nature of their relationship. Now this couple can go shopping, share each other’s clothing, they do each other’s hair and makeup. They get to be girlie-girls which they absolutely love to do! Although it may raise some eye brows from an outsider’s perspective, they love each other so much this is what their happiness looks like.

Because they had a wedding ceremony when Mason married Maddie they want to have another ceremony for KYLIE and Maddie. They want to celebrate their love as a same-sex couple. They want to each wear wedding dresses and invite the friends and family members that will support their union. Kylie is even taking Maddie’s last name in the wedding! Although they are excited they are unsure about the drama involved with asking friends and family to support their love.

Maddie and Kylie are so enmeshed that nothing can stop them. They are proof that gender identity doesn’t have to stop or define a relationship. Love can truly be unconditional. Despite the struggles this couple faces, they vow to never allow anyone or anything get in their way.