Stefan’s Deportation Case

Stefan, who first came into contact with the SLGLF, was originally from Spain and threatened with deportation after living here for ten years. Though Franco was dead the country was ruled by King Juan Carlos and fascism was only slowly giving way to a more liberal regime. Even so a reactionary moral climate and social conservatism still prevailed there and Stefan was terrified that his homosexuality would be discovered on returning to Spain.

Members of the SLGLF and the Gay activists Alliance called for a picket of Pentonville prison where Stefan was held pending his deportation. At the court hearing members of the SLGLF, together with the legal team defending him, spoke up in his favour and secured his right to stay.

Bill Thornycroft recalls Stefan’s defence:

“Stefan's threatened deportation? I went to the court case. I was one of the guarantors or sureties or whatever you call them and Gary (de Vere) was. There was this wonderful meeting with the adjudicator or whatever you call him. Sort of judge who decides. Stefan made this incredible speech about how he was in danger if he went back to Spain. How he loved England and England was the most wonderful place. The most wonderful place and the only place more wonderful than England was perhaps, but only perhaps, heaven. I thought...my god, he's going rather over the top on this. It worked. He was allowed to stay (laughter). It was an immigration court or something maybe in the Strand.