Lopez, an eternally optimistic person, was born in El Salvador in 1985. His grandparents raised him between the ages of five and thirteen, as his parents had migrated to the United States to build a better future for their family. His grandparents’ farm, where he and his siblings worked, had neither running water nor electricity. Although Adiel used to “love to play dress up” as a child, he did not talk about his sexuality or gender until much later. He speaks proudly about his mother’s acceptance when he finally decided to come out to her. His teen years were spent in Chelsea, MA, and then he moved to Lynn after discovering Fran’s place in 2013. Adiel identifies Fran’s Place with “family, friendship, and community.” He currently lives in Lynn with his husband Robert and two-year-old son Gabriel.