La importancia de que un adolescente LGTBIQ+ se vea reflejado en el cine

Conchi Zerolo, sister of Pedro Zerolo – one of the most important LGTBIQ+ activists in the history of Spain – who is also vice president of the Pedro Zerolo Foundation, is welcomed on the LOVE TV set to discuss her brother’s legacy and the work of the foundation that bears his name. Interviewed by journalist Micaela García, she believes that we must continue to fight «for a rainbow society, a diverse and plural society where we all fit in.»

Recently, the Plenary of the Parliament of the Canary Islands has approved a Non-Legislative Proposal to posthumously award the Gold Medal of the Canary Islands to the Spanish politician and LGTB activist Pedro Zerolo. His family values this decision, which takes place on the tenth anniversary of his death: «I think it is a very deserved fact. All the speeches were very emotional.»

Conchi González Zerolo is vice president and delegate in the archipelago of the Pedro Zerolo Foundation. This organization was created in 2018 with the aim of preserving and promoting the legacy of the Spanish activist and politician, as well as all the causes and struggles that were part of his life.

The Pedro Zerolo Foundation carries out different projects, among which the interviewee highlights the Cinematheque, a large catalog of LGBTIQ+ cinema that is transferred to educational centers or senior centers. Zerolo emphasizes the transformative potential of cinema: «For a teenager from the community to see reflected what they feel, their words, their stories, is very important because there was nothing before.»

In the year that marks the 20th anniversary of the approval of marriage equality, Pedro Zerolo’s older sister recalls the «real debates» about this historic law in which her brother was a key figure. She also remembers the detractors of the same: «Even many people believed that it should not be called marriage.»

Zerolo also highlights on LOVE TV the importance of LGTBI+ historical memory, while criticizing the lack of knowledge in terms of diversity, often the reason for LGTBIfobic comments: «The comments I hear are due to ignorance. We are very concerned about the rumors,» and advocates for education to avoid falling into the spiral of aggression and hatred in which social media are.