Pedro Zamora

For the trade unionist, see Pedro Zamora Álvarez.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zamora and the second or maternal family name is Díaz.
Pedro Zamora
Zamora in 1993
Born
Pedro Pablo Zamora y Díaz

(1972-02-29)February 29, 1972
Diezmero, San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, Cuba[1]
DiedNovember 11, 1994(1994-11-11) (aged 22)
Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, U.S.[1]
Cause of deathAIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Occupation(s)Reality television personality, AIDS educator
PartnerSean Sasser (1994)

Pedro Pablo Zamora (born Pedro Pablo Zamora y Díaz, February 29, 1972 – November 11, 1994) was a Cuban-American AIDS educator and television personality.[1][2] As one of the first openly gay men with AIDS to be portrayed in popular media,[3] Zamora brought international attention to HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ issues and prejudices through his appearance on MTV's reality television series, The Real World: San Francisco.[1][2]

Zamora's romantic relationship with Sean Sasser was also documented on the show; their relationship was later nominated by MTV viewers for "Favorite Love Story" award,[4] and the broadcast of their commitment ceremony in 1994, in which they exchanged vows, was the first such same-sex ceremony in television history, and is considered a landmark in the history of the medium.[5][6]

U.S. President Bill Clinton credited Zamora with personalizing and humanizing those living with HIV—especially to Latino communities—with his activism, including his testimony before Congress.[7][8] Zamora's personal struggle with AIDS, and his conflict with housemate David "Puck" Rainey is credited with helping to make The Real World a hit show, for which Time ranked it #7 on its list of "32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History".[9]

  1. ^ a b c d The Wall Street Journal, September 4, 1994, Page A-1.
  2. ^ a b Pedro Zamora, WPBT Channel 2-New Florida, November 11–17, 2004, Oscar Lopez Producer
  3. ^ Heigl, Alex. "Twelve Crucial Moments in the Evolution of MTV". Nerve. August 2011.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference RWAwardsBash was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Duke, Alan; Carter, Chelsea, J. (August 8, 2013). "Sean Sasser, whose ceremony with partner on 'Real World' was TV first, dies". CNN.
  6. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (August 8, 2013). "'Real World' star Sean Sasser dies at 44". USA Today.
  7. ^ A Tribute to Pedro Zamora MTV. November 1994.
  8. ^ Winick, Judd (2000). Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned. Henry Holt & Co. pp. 103-109.
  9. ^ Webley, Kayla. "32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History: 7. The Real World: Puck vs. Pedro", Time magazine. Retrieved April 9, 2011.