Life and Legacy of a Civil Rights Pioneer
Puerto del Rosario hosted the book launch about the legacy of Pedro Zerolo, written by Miguel A. Fernández García.
As part of the “Saturnalia Cultural” program organized by the Culture Department of the Puerto del Rosario City Council, the presentation and signing of Pedro Zerolo: Life and Legacy of a Pioneer for Civil Rights took place on the evening of Tuesday, 16 December, at the Casa de la Cultura. The book was authored by Zerolo’s friend and fellow activist, Miquel A. Fernández García.
“Saturnalia Cultural” showcases this biographical account, a first‑person shared memory written by Miquel A. Fernández, who accompanied Pedro Zerolo on his thrilling two‑decade journey toward equality. It stands as an unparalleled testimony to Zerolo’s fight for equality, his progressive thinking, and his legacy as a defender of human and civil rights. The work is a must‑read on the 20th anniversary of the legalization of same‑sex marriage.
“Tell the story of what we have lived, so people know our struggle; otherwise, others will tell it,” Zerolo urged, a directive that guided Fernández’s effort to honor his figure.
Without Zerolo’s relentless drive and the determination of those who stood beside him, Spain would never have achieved its current status as a pioneering nation in respecting and advancing the rights of a community that had long suffered discrimination. Now, twenty years after that historic victory and ten years after his death, Miquel A. Fernández has undertaken the task of honoring Pedro Zerolo, partially fulfilling Zerolo’s own mandate.
The chronicle of this essential reading, released on the 20th anniversary of marriage equality, represents not only a promise but also a lingering debt to the protagonist and the many groups he represented—both within institutions and across civil‑society movements.
Mayor David de Vera: “This presentation highlights not only Zerolo’s trajectory in the tireless fight for equal rights for everyone, but also a society that has positively evolved. From this Corporation we continue to promote that path.”
Culture Councilor Juan Manuel Verdugo: “Zerolo was both a witness and a direct protagonist of the social, cultural, and legal journey that involved years of demands, proposals, and struggles to achieve national and international equality milestones that we enjoy today.”
President of ALTIHAY Fuerteventura, Carla Soto García: “We have invited everyone to attend because this is not just a book launch; it is also an event to celebrate and honor Pedro Zerolo’s memory from Fuerteventura—a key figure in LGTBIQ+ activism and the fight for rights in our country. It pays tribute to his inspiring legacy. This book is essential for understanding Pedro Zerolo and makes a wonderful gift for the holidays.”