The original reality show broke ground with Pedro.

On November 11, 1994, the day after the final episode of TheReal World: San Francisco aired, Pedro Zamora succumbed to complications fromAIDS. Most of the world had only known him since June of that year, but the 22-year-old had made the most of the short time he’d spent on earth.

Born in Cuba, raised in Miami, Pedro was diagnosed as HIV+while still in high school, and had dedicated his life to being an educator onthe disease.  Prior to appearing on thegroundbreaking MTV reality show, he had already spoken about the disease with OprahWinfrey, Phil Donahue, and before a session of Congress.

But it was by appearing on The Real World: San Francisco that he managedto have a global impact. For many young people, Pedro was the first real, out gayman they ever saw on television or even in their daily lives. Over the course of theprogram, the world watched as he battled both the disease and his roommate Puck, foundlove, and even had a commitment ceremony.

Pedro was the face of youth living with a disease with no cure, or even back then, an effective treatment. He took on the task with both dignity andrelish, and then President Clinton credited him with humanizing those living withHIV/AIDS.