Infobox Person
name = Felix Alvarez
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caption = Felix Alvarez, gay, human rights and green campaigner.
birth_name = Felix Alvarez
birth_date = birth date and age|1951|10|11
birth_place = Gibraltar
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residence = Gibraltar
nationality = British
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known_for = Founder of the Equality Rights Group
education = Goldsmiths, University of London
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parents = Felix Alvarez
Laura Parody
relations = Emilio Alvarez
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Felix Alvarez was born St Bernard’s Hospital, Gibraltar, on 11 October 1951, to Felix and Laura Alvarez (née Parody). He has a brother, James (T&G MOD shop steward), three years his junior. Alvarez's maternal grandfather was cousin to Emilio Alvarez, founder member of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (AACR), an important early movement in Gibraltar in the 1940s and onwards which led to the formation of Gibraltarian civic political life.
"The link with Emilio is something I was unaware of and often denied when asked about it years back. It was only in casual discussion with my mother that mention was made of the family link. But, of course, it makes a lot of sense in some ways: the interest in civil and political rights is clear. Nonetheless, whilst the grandfather who was related to Emilio was Parody, my (unrelated) paternal grandfather was Alvarez. And I have to say, when I've looked at photos of my dad's father and Emilio Alvarez, I can see the physical resemblance! So whether I'm doubly connected to Emilio is anyone's guess! That would require research which I may one day have time to undertake."citequote
Alvarez went to school at St Anne’s School, Gibraltar. "I remember the Headmistress, Miss Macintosh, being very nice. I recall her bubble car, something that in my child's mind seemed to make sense given her rotund form! I remember she asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and I don't know why but I replied "An Architect". Probably because I liked the sound of the long, strange word. I recall the 'new' annex school being opened in my last year. And a pig-tailed pretty girl I fell in love with called Claudia Maclean, whom I followed to the nearby iron bridge after school one day."citequote
Alvarez's family moved to London in 1959, living first near the Dalston/Hoxton area of the East End but spending the majority of his life in the south London areas of Clapham and Tulse Hill. Alvarez grew up bilingual and bicultural as do most Gibraltarians. Yet the experience of being ‘foreign’ in 1960's London was not easy for him or his family. He has vivid memories of tobacconist notice boards full of accommodation "to let" signs saying "no coloureds or dogs".
The experience of "being different" in an unaccepting society alerted him from an early age to the situation of the marginalised. As a teenager, Alvarez attended Wandsworth Comprehensive School, a progressive post-grammar school model, famous for its boys' choir. "At sixth form level I was already doing work beyond degree stage, something I discovered only later when I actually went to University. That's a testament to the quality of the teaching and its staff at the school."citequote It was during this period of his formative teenage years that, through personal contact, Alvarez joined Peter Hain in his Anti-Apartheid campaigns, work which he continued later at university as a young student in the early 70s.
Returning to London after 3 years in a northern university, Alvarez discovered GLF (Gay Liberation Front),[citation |url=http://www.vox.gi/Profile/1899.html |title=Felix Alvarez: Conquering His Fears to Further Human Rights |periodical=Vox Online |date=16 February, 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-26] recently imported from the Stonewall riots of New York in the late 1960s. Becoming immediately involved in its activities, Alvarez was one of the founders of Britain’s first Gay Community Centres, where pioneering work was undertaken to establish phone counselling, information and advice, and weekly community meetings to raise self-esteem and channel gay and lesbian anger towards change rather than towards self-damage. At this time, Felix Alvarez worked with the Lambeth Community Law Centre and the Brixton Housing Advice Centre in Railton Road.]Alvarez went on to qualify in community and social work at Goldsmiths, University of London in 1978. Disillusioned with the downturn of fascist trends in London (with the rise of the National Front), Alvarez took up the possibility of work in the Middle East on what he considered to be "an adventure" for 6 months. The adventure lasted 16 years, during which time Alvarez learnt Arabic and travelled the world.
In 1997, Alvarez returned to Gibraltar. One of his first undertakings on the Rock was to produce an in-depth study and M.A. thesis on bilingualism in the Gibraltarian educational system from nursery schools all the way through to adult vocational training. This was entitled "Primary Code and Private Space: Choice in the Host Classroom". A copy was deposited with the John Mackintosh Hall and has become a reference point for international researchers regarding the impact of bilingualism in a community. The research contained implications for Gibraltar's educational policies which, to date, have not been taken note of.
Experiencing difficulties as a result of insurmountable bureaucracy and prejudice regarding his non-EU same-sex partner, Alvarez determined to start challenging discrimination of sexual minorities in Gibraltar. By this time Deputy Leader of a political party (the now defunct Independent Liberal Forum (ILF)), he persuaded his party to back him in the establishment of what was to be known as Gib Gay Rights (GGR). In a Gibraltar television news broadcast on 4 September 2000, Alvarez announced that “the fear factor” was over as far as gay citizens were concerned. From then on, gay citizens would be demanding equal rights as full citizens of Gibraltar. Such forthright breaking of the ice on such a taboo subject created waves in Gibraltar society, and continues to generate interest.
To date, under his Chairmanship, GGR has achieved the following:
*An on-going social education and awareness campaign through the media and political action which has seen a significant shift in public opinion in Gibraltar on issues affecting same-sex relations. So much so that neither silence nor taboo can any longer be said to describe the situation in Gibraltar on gay issues.
*From a position where no politician or political party addressed gay rights, today the majority of politicians and political parties in Gibraltar have clear and positive pro-gay rights policies and stances. The ruling Social Democrats are now in a minority by not having clear pro policies.
*The establishment of strong and important ties with organisations and high-profile politicians both at Westminster and Brussels
*A campaign to pressure the Gibraltar Government to introduce an EU directive introducing sexual orientation anti-discrimination provisions in employment law.
*A campaign to equalise the gay age of consent. This having been successfully brought before Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Gibraltar Government is to announce the measures to be introduced in this respect.
Alvarez’s vision has always been the establishment of comprehensive links across other areas of discrimination – whether disability, age, children’s rights or any other area of social concern. This was clear from the start, even before his setting up of GGR, when he actively held meetings with lawyers and other individuals to create interest in the setting up of a Gibraltar branch of British human rights organisation “Liberty”. Whilst that project did not prosper, Alvarez’s vision has been comprehensive and unitary throughout. This has meant that GGR now considers itself a gay and human rights organisation.
Alvarez continues to steer the development of gay and human rights in Gibraltar. To do so,and in addition to his already strong academic background (a B.A. and M.A. as well as qualifications in social and community work, in addition to in the teaching of English as a Second or Other Language) he undertook a law degree (LLB) “to better equip myself with the language of the law and politics, and so I could see where people where coming from and where we ought to be heading.”citequote Felix Alvarez continues working for human rights in Gibraltar.
References
ee also
* List of Gibraltarians
