Editing Pedro Zamora (section)

===1993–94: ''The Real World''===
Zamora sent an audition tape for the show, thinking that he could reach more people simply by the national exposure than by constant travel.<ref name=peak/> Six months later, Zamora was cast on the show, beating out 25,000 applicants.<ref name=PedroAndMe58-59/>

Zamora and his castmates ([[The Real World: San Francisco#Cast|Mohammed Bilal]], [[Rachel Campos]], [[Pam Ling]], [[The Real World: San Francisco#Cast|Cory Murphy]], [[David "Puck" Rainey]], and [[Judd Winick]]) moved into the house at 953 [[Lombard Street, San Francisco|Lombard Street]] on [[Russian Hill]] on February 12, 1994. The producers had informed the other six castmates that one person was HIV-positive, but did not specify whom. Once all of the castmates were in the house, Zamora informed them that it was he who was HIV-positive, showing them a [[scrapbooking|scrapbook]] of his career as an [[AIDS]] educator.<ref>Winick (2000). pp. 61-67.</ref> At the time, Ling was the only castmate with background on how HIV was transmitted, being a [[medical school]] student.

All of the castmates were receptive to Zamora, but [[Rachel Campos]] privately expressed (during the show's routine 'confessionals') her discomfort with Zamora's being HIV-positive. She was concerned how HIV would possibly affect her and the others in the house. She was afraid to bring up her concerns during the initial meeting, for fear of seeming intolerant. Thus, Campos initially distanced herself from Zamora, which Zamora interpreted as rejection.<ref name=ep1>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357648/questions.jhtml#id=1607521 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331113552/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357648/questions.jhtml#id=1607521 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 31, 2009 |title=Video of Episode 1 of ''The Real World: San Francisco'' ("Planes, Trains and Paddywagons") |publisher=MTV |date=March 28, 2009 |access-date=January 18, 2011}}</ref>

Later, Zamora educated Campos about HIV and AIDS, which eased her apprehension. Despite very differing political views, they formed a rapport as the show progressed. On one episode, Campos brought Zamora to meet her Spanish-Mexican family in Arizona. By the season's end, however, Zamora expressed his disappointment to Campos that they did not become the close friends that they could have been.

Winick stated that Zamora had an almost "[[clairvoyant]]" ability to broach sensitive subjects. Despite Winick's never voicing it, Zamora sensed that Winick had lingering worries about sharing a room with him. Zamora educated Winick subtly through casual conversation, so much so that Winick did not even realize it.<ref>Winick (2000). pp. 68-71.</ref> In later episodes, Winick, Ling, and Murphy often attended Zamora's lectures at schools in the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]], wanting to learn more about HIV and AIDS.<ref>Winick (2000). pp. 96-102.</ref><ref>Winick (2000). p. 111.</ref>

During filming of the show, Zamora and Sean Sasser began dating, and quickly became a couple. Sasser eventually proposed to Zamora, and the two exchanged vows in a [[commitment ceremony]] held in the Real World house. In so doing, they made history as the first same-sex commitment ceremony on TV.<ref name=PedroAndMe103-109/><ref name="CNN"/> Their relationship was nominated for "Favorite Love Story" at the 2008 ''Real Worlds Awards Bash''.<ref name="RWAwardsBash">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/specials/real_world_awards/category.jhtml?catId=favorite_love_story&cpid=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215105643/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/specials/real_world_awards/category.jhtml?catId=favorite_love_story&cpid=8 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 15, 2008 |title=Real World Awards Bash nominees for 'Favorite Love Story' |publisher=MTV |access-date=January 18, 2011}}</ref>

Midway through filming, Zamora's health suddenly declined. He was suffering [[night sweats]], bouts of [[Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia|pneumonia]], fatigue, and weight loss. Producer Jon Murray stated, "He got sick much faster than he expected. That's when he made us promise to tell his story till the end."<ref name=MiamiHerald/> The stress of the perpetual conflict between Zamora and castmate Rainey was contributing to his decline. Rainey's antagonism towards Zamora included mocking his Cuban accent, dismissing Zamora's and Sasser's relationship, and multiple homophobic comments. Zamora announced he was moving out, as Rainey's antics had become intolerable. The other castmates unanimously agreed that they wanted Zamora to stay, and evicted Rainey. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' ranked this episode #7 on its list of "32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History".<ref name="Time"/>

Zamora was able to participate in activities like parasailing during the cast's trip to [[Hawaii]], giving viewers the impression that he was healthier than he actually was. The castmates knew he was unwell and often covered for him during their weekly confessional interviews, saying Zamora was doing fine when they knew otherwise.<ref>Winick (2000). pp. 114-115.</ref>