HRC Blog

“Pedro” premieres on MTV; network relaunches interactive sex ed website

April 2, 2009

In 1994, Pedro Zamora captured the hearts of millions on the third season of MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco as the first-ever openly gay, HIV-positive main character on a national television show. Zamora's time in the Real World house on Lombard Street brought a face to the AIDS crisis. U.S. President Bill Clinton later credited Zamora with personalizing and humanizing those with the disease. MTV also broke new ground in showing Zamora's deepening relationship with partner and AIDS educator Sean Sasser and in televising a commitment ceremony between a same-sex couple way before the national movement for marriage equality. Pedro, a film written by Milk Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black and directed by Nick Oceano that celebrates the life of Zamora, premiered yesterday on MTV and Logo. The film gives homage to the life of Zamora, a young man who when he found out he was HIV positive at 17, made the courageous decision to dedicate the rest of his life to speaking out about HIV/AIDS. Prior to The Real World, Zamora even testified before the United States Congress to argue for more explicit HIV/AIDS educational programs aimed at youth of color.

(WATCH THE FULL FILM ONLINE HERE.) His appearance on The Real World brought his story and his message to MTV's young audience and beyond, and when Zamora's health began to deteriorate in late 1994 (after he left the show), it became front page news nationwide. His death at age 22 provoked a worldwide outpouring of grief. In support of Pedro and in an effort to provide young Americans with a tangible way to carry on Pedro’s fight to stop the spread of STD’s and HIV, MTV will be launching a national multimedia campaign to get all sexually active young people tested for STDs. In partnership with Kaiser Family Foundation, Planned Parenthood of America, and with technical support from the Center for Disease Control and the NYC Department of Health, MTV will work to dispel myths around testing, get people tested, and promote healthy sexual lifestyles. MTV is encouraging people to check out www.itsyoursexlife.com for up to date resources on sexual health topics and to be part of the discussion on and find answers to the most important issues they are facing regarding sex.