Pedro Zerolo facts for kids
Pedro González Zerolo (born July 20, 1960, in Caracas; died June 9, 2015, in Madrid) was a Spanish-Venezuelan lawyer and politician. He served as a city councilor in Madrid. He was also an important member of the PSOE, where he worked on social movements and connections with NGOs.
Pedro Zerolo was one of the most important activists for LGBT rights in Spanish history. He strongly supported giving marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples in Spain. Because of his work, he became a hero and an important figure for the Spanish LGBT community.
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Pedro Zerolo's Life Story
Pedro Zerolo was born in Caracas, Venezuela. His family came from the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. His father, Pedro González, had lived away from Spain because of the Francoist government. Pedro González later became the first mayor of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife) when Spain became a democracy. He was also a well-known painter.
Pedro Zerolo studied law at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, where he grew up. After finishing his studies, he moved to Madrid. There, he continued to study law, focusing on how different laws compare. At the same time, he worked with a Catholic priest named Enrique de Castro. They helped people in a poor neighborhood in Madrid called Entrevías.
Through his work in law and politics, Pedro Zerolo became a very famous activist. He fought for the rights of the LGBT community, especially for marriage equality in Spain.
On October 1, 2005, Zerolo married his partner of ten years, Jesús Santos, in a civil ceremony. In the same year, he also performed the wedding ceremony for politician Ángeles Álvarez and Teresa Heredero. They were the first two lesbian women to marry in Madrid.
Pedro Zerolo passed away on June 9, 2015, in Madrid. He was 55 years old and died from pancreatic cancer.
Pedro Zerolo's Career
Pedro Zerolo worked as both a lawyer and a politician. In 1992, he started as a legal advisor for the Colectivo Gay de Madrid (Gay Collective of Madrid, COGAM). Later in 1993, he was chosen to be the president of this group. He then also gave legal help to the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales (National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals, FELGTB). In 1998, he became the president of FELGTB and was re-elected in 2000 and 2002.
In 2001 and 2003, he took part in important talks. These talks were between different political groups about changing the Spanish Civil Code. These changes were about allowing same-sex marriage.
In 2004, he joined the board of directors for the International Lesbian and Gay Association. Also in 2004, he stepped down as president of FELGTB. This was because he was elected as a councilman for the City of Madrid by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). He led the department for Social Movements and Relations with NGOs. He continued this work until 2012, when he was elected to a new role within the PSOE. Throughout his time with the Socialist Party, he strongly supported and defended LGBT rights in the Spanish Parliament. Zerolo spoke to the Spanish Parliament during debates about civil partnerships. He also spoke in the Spanish Senate to highlight unfair treatment against the gay community in Spain.
Honoring Pedro Zerolo
On December 11, 2015, Radio Club Tenerife Cadena Ser gave him the "Teide de Oro Award" after his death.
In July 2015, the City Council of Madrid decided to rename the Plaza de Vázquez de Mella. It became the Plaza de Pedro Zerolo to honor him. The new plaza was officially opened on May 14, 2016, in the Chueca neighborhood of Madrid. Many important people were there, including the mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, and the leader of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez. Members of the LGBTI community were also present.
Other places have also been named after him. There is a square in the south of Tenerife in the Villa de Adeje. A garden near Elche (in the province of Alicante) was also named in his honor.
Cities like Malaga, Murcia, and San Cristóbal de La Laguna in Tenerife are also planning to name squares or streets after him. Additionally, Alcázar de San Juan plans to dedicate an open-air theater in his honor.
The Cabildo de Tenerife declared Pedro Zerolo an Illustrious Son of Tenerife on June 14, 2019.
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See also
In Spanish: Pedro Zerolo para niños
