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Pedro Zamora}’s portrait

Pedro Zamora

  • 22 years old
  • Male
  • Born Feb 29, 1972
  • Died Nov 11, 1994
  • United States
was a Cuban-American HIV-positive AIDS educator who became famous for his activism, testimony before Congress, and his appearance on Real World. U.S. President Clinton credited Zamora with personalizing and humanizing those with the disease.
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About

Legacy

After his death, Zamora was publicly praised by President Bill Clinton and Donna Shalala for his leadership and work in educating high school students, saying that through his appearances on The Real World, Pedro had become a part of viewers’ families, and that all people who watched the show could now say that they “knew” someone who had lived with AIDS.

MTV broadcast A Tribute to Pedro Zamora, a special memorial program, in his honor.

A street in Miami (SW 59th Street) was given the name "Pedro Zamora Way", although it is not in Hialeah, where he lived. Howard D. McMillan Middle School is located on that street where he did a presentation on HIV and AIDS. The school is located in Kendall, a suburb of Miami, Florida.

A number of organizations were created in Pedro's name, including:

    * The National Pedro Zamora Project (founded by Winick, Ling, Mily, and Sasser on October 21, 1994)
    * The Pedro Zamora Foundation
    * The National Pedro Zamora Project
    * The Pedro Zamora Memorial Fund (Sponsored by the AIDS Action Foundation)
    * The Pedro Zamora Youth Clinic
    * The Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship
    * Pedro Zamora Youth HIV Clinic (Los Angeles)

Winick continued lecturing on behalf of Pedro, speaking at over 70 schools across the United States throughout 1995, before time constraints forced him to stop, but his friendship with Zamora helped shape his subsequent work as a comic book writer and artist. His autobiographical graphic novel, Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned, was published in September 2000. It was awarded and nominated for numerous awards, including six American Library Association awards, a nomination for an Eisner Award, won Winick his first GLAAD award, has been praised by creators such as Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, and Armistead Maupin, and has been incorporated into school curricula across the country. Winick's experiences with Pedro would also help shape his work in mainstream superhero comics, which would receive considerable media attention for storylines in Green Lantern and Green Arrow which explored gay or AIDS-related themes.

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Memories

BEAUTY IN THE PUREST FORM

Alexander Feb 01, 2012

I learned of Pedros story years ago. living his life so freely openly ( to t he end) altered the way individuals view HIV & Aids.. and it aslo spoke MASSES about his courage as a person. I see a beauty in him that has been absent on this planet for quite sometime. His passion for education to teens and adults through his speeches & educating by allowing others to view his life and death is one of the most selfless acts of kidness that claims beauty of another realm. on top of being stunningly handsome, his soul was just as beautiful. I love you Pedro and you will live on in me for an eternity. Rest well beautiful.

RIP Pedro

Amelie Dec 05, 2011

After watching the movie and MTV tribute dedicated to Pedro, I was very touched and emotional. I've never heard of Pedro until this moment. When he was alive and doing all those goodness, I was just a wee child. So I'm glad, even after 17yrs, I got the chance to learn about Pedro, his story, his love for people, his ambition, his ability to draw people and make them fall in love with him. I hope that his legacy shall forever rain among us. I hope his courageous acts and his unselfish need to help other will be a source of inspiration for many generations to come. Thank you Pedro, you are indeed a butterfly in a mist x

Sj (Dec 05, 2011)

I recently saw "pedro" the movie named after him. Was really touched with his life story. His is truly inspirational. Hats off. I admire you pedro. You were and will be loved forever.

Happy Angel Day

Noor Nov 12, 2011

Remembering Pedro Zamora 17 years later. RIP Pedro.

A true inspiration!

Adrian Petru Nov 11, 2011

I've seen "Real World to San Francisco" in 1994 when I was 14 years old. I was so inlove with Pedro, with his joy and his willing to share the life with others.

No I'm almost 31, being HIV positive and I hope I'll find the power to do for others what Pedro did so well.

Sj (Dec 05, 2011)

Lots of support and good wishes to you.

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  • What was Pedro Zamora's first job? Did he/she like it?

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