Asunción, Paraguay, May 27, 2008 / 01:41 am (CNA).- Pedro Zerolo, a well-known homosexual activist and the executive secretary of Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE), traveled last week to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay—where he met with president-elect and former bishop Fernando Lugo—to promote gender ideology and the legalization of gay marriage in South America.

After meeting with Lugo, Zerolo said Spain and Paraguay would work together on issues of poverty, education, gender and climate change.  Zerolo also met with feminist and homosexual groups, telling them he is hopeful Paraguay will “develop policies with a gender perspective.”

In Argentina Zerolo met with President Cristina Kirchner, encouraging her to “move into the future” by allowing the approval of a measure that would legalize gay unions and give gay couples the right to adopt children.  If Kirchner gives the green light, the measure would go before the Argentinean Congress.

“The same people who didn’t want anything to change in Spain will oppose this law here.  But I’m not worried about protests from the right and from the Church,” Zerolo said.

Zerolo was president in 1993 of the Gay Collective of Madrid.  In 1998 he was elected president of the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals.  He won reelection to the post in 2000 and 2002.

As a member of Spain’s Socialist party, he was one of the main supporters of the legalization of homosexual unions in Spain.  He participated in various attempts to get Spain’s Congress to modify the law on gay issues.

In 2005 he legalized his union with his gay partner. In addition to working for the Socialist Party, he is a Madrid city council member and a confidant of President Jose Luis Zapatero.

07:10 am | Former Saints star says Super Bowl victory revealed a ‘team with destiny’

06:01 am | DC ruling favors same-sex ‘marriage’ over religious freedom, archdiocese says

04:43 am | South African Bishops Conference to care for 60,000 AIDS patients

02:29 am | Irish bishops meet with abuse survivors to prepare for meeting with Pope

12:52 am | Spanish bishop calls on Catholic journalists to witness to truth

Administrator fired for criticizing gay rights alleges First Amendment violation

Texas priest resigns new post after complaints about homosexual web site

Sacramento mayoral candidate criticized for opposing same-sex marriage

University administrator placed on leave for column critical of homosexuality