Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned by Judd Winick

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Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned
by Judd Winick
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2803875

When I was a kid, Pedro wasn't the first person I was aware of who was HIV-positive, but he & the others on the Real World were among the first I saw speaking out about it. It brought the issue right into my home for the first time in a very real way. It touched my heart to see people who weren't otherwise exposed to it suddenly changed forever by a mere TV show selecting them to live in house together.

This was a much more interesting and honest account than I could have guessed it would be. Judd was able to show what it was like to be on reality television, how relationships are formed, how shallow or deep they are.

Judd did an amazing job at showing us what it was like to meet Pedro, get to know him, and let his message touch him. I consider them all incredibly brave, but especially Pedro for suffering in order to show the world that people can have lives, even if they're HIV+. Judd also showed us a lot of fun or lighter moments--jokes, uncertainty, normal every day moments of life.

I had no idea how soon after the show aired Pedro passed away. It doesn't seem at all fair, especially to his husband. I'm not ashamed to say I cried. In the end, it was about love and friendship and messages that stick with you.