A man who fell in love with a Transgender woman while they were both prison inmates has married her after she was released from prison.
Adriel met Monae Alvarado (born a man) when he was working in the laundry room of a prison in Pennsylvania. As at the time they met, Monae had already started to take hormone replacements but she hadn’t yet had surgery to change her gender.
As at when Monae was sentenced it was policy to incarcerate pre-surgery transgender people based on their gender at birth so she had to be imprisoned with males and that was how she met Adriel.
Despite opposition from prison officials and inmates they still made out time for each other and spent quality time during dinners, movie nights and even read at the library together while in prison.
Before Adriel left the prison, he proposed to Monae and even though they hoped to marry while they were both still inmates they had to wait until Monae was released.
Adriel speaking to Truly said: ‘I think being inside was the foundation that made our relationship. ‘I saw Monae at her lowest, Monae saw me at my lowest. I saw her at her happiest, she’s seen me at my happiest.’
‘We wanted to get married as inmates in the prison but there was no policy in place to marry two inmates at the time’.
Monae added: ‘We had that unique bond in prison, so I guess what makes us stronger.’
Immediately Monae left prison she rushed to have top and bottom surgery ahead of their wedding day. Monae’s mother and godfather were the only family members that attended .
Adriel said: ‘I got my hair braided, I got my state browns pressed with starch and all that. It was in the visiting room. Nobody was there, it was just me, Monae, Monae’s mother, Monae’s godfather, a couple of councilors, union manager and the lady that officiated the wedding and the reverend.’
