Earle, Brent Nicholson

In 1985, Earle planned The American Run for the End of AIDS (A.R.E.A.), a 10,000 mile run around the perimeter of the United States, which he ran from March 1986 to October 1987. On June 7, 1990 he set off from San Francisco and arrived in Vancouver, Canada on August 4 for the beginning of the third Gay Games held there that year. He was assisted in his AIDS activism by his mother, Marion Nicholson, until her death in 1991. On April 29, 1994, he left San Francisco, this time leading a 7-person team on the Rainbow Roll, a trek on rollerblades, carrying a rainbow flag through 22 cities and ending up in New York City on June 16 for the start of the fourth Gay Games. On each trek, Earle worked to raise awareness and knowledge about AIDS and to raise money for AIDS service organizations. In 1990, People Magazine named Earle one of its "20 individuals who shaped the 80's." He has continued work as an AIDS activist.