Pedro Zamora

Pedro Zamora (February 29, 1972 - November 11, 1994) was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States in 1980 with the Mariel boatlift and resided most of his life in Miami, Florida. Zamora was an "out" (openly gay) HIV-positive AIDS activist who joined the cast of MTV's ' to help increase awareness of AIDS and safer sex practices. Zamora was very personable and connected with a national U.S. television audience by sharing intimate details of his life and struggle with AIDS each week on the Real World show. Zamora was the first and only person living with HIV/AIDS that many people knew. Zamora brought awareness of the AIDS epidemic to a national audience in a way that had not be done before. He was publicly praised by U.S. President Bill Clinton for his leadership and work in educating high school students.

Related Topics:
February 29 - 1972 - November 11 - 1994 - Havana - Cuba - United States - 1980 - Mariel boatlift - Miami, Florida - Out - Gay - HIV-positive - AIDS - MTV - Television - Bill Clinton

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Zamora died of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) soon after The Real World: San Francisco completed taping and MTV broadcast a special memorial program in his honor.

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Zamora's Real World roommate, cartoonist Judd Winick, published a graphic novel called Pedro and Me which chronicled his experiences with Pedro during and after the MTV program. Published in 2000, it won numerous awards.

Related Topics:
Judd Winick - Pedro and Me

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