MTV "Real World: San Francisco" star Sean Sasser
died at age 44 of mesothelioma on Wednesday. Sean Sasser had been HIV positive
for 25 years and his death on Wednesday came after he had been diagnosed with
mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer, last month. Sean Sasser died in the
Washington home he shared with Michael Kaplan.
Mesothelioma is more commonly known as a form of lung cancer that develops in people who have worked in jobs where they inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. However, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), mesothelioma can develop in an HIV/AIDS patient without history of asbestos exposure due to immunosuppression.
Long before gay marriage became a headline, MTV "Real
World: San Francisco" star Sean Sasser’s commitment ceremony to Pedro
Zamora in 1994 was one of the first ever televised gay marriage ceremonies.
Pedro Zamora was a Cuban-American AIDS educator and
television personality and he was of the first openly gay men with AIDS to be
portrayed in popular media. Pedro Zamora brought international attention to
HIV/AIDS and LGBT issues and prejudices because of his appearance on MTV's
reality television series, “The Real World: San Francisco.”
In an MTV video interview,
U.S. President Bill Clinton credited Pedro Zamora with personalizing and
humanizing those living with HIV—especially to Latino communities—with his
activism, including his testimony before Congress.
Pedro Zamora and Sean Sasser’s romantic relationship was documented
on MTV’s "Real World: San
Francisco" and the two men’s relationship was later nominated by MTV viewers
for "Favorite Love Story" award.
After Pedro Zamora died of AIDS on Nov. 11, 1994, the day
after the final episode of “The Real World: San Francisco” aired, Sean Sasser continued
to work as AIDS activist for numerous political and social organizations.
Just in May of 2013, former “Real World” star Sean Sasser spoke
to the Washington
Blade about his philosophy as a pastry chef, about his love for chocolate,
and about his passion to take familiar dessert items “to the next level” as one
of his favorite ways to be innovative in the kitchen.
“I want to serve desserts and pastries that people recognize
and love to eat, but sometimes with an unexpected twist of surprise,” described
former MTV "Real World: San Francisco" star Sean Sasser his philosophy
behind the food he served as a pastry chef at RIS restaurant in Washington,
D.C.
On Tuesday, Sean Sasser’s friend and “Real World” fellow
cast member, Judd Winick, announced via Twitter
that Sean Sasser has died and expressed in a few words what many feel.
"Our friend Sean
Sasser has died. Our love goes out to his family & husband Michael. We will
miss u so much."
