Brent Nicholson Earle (born 21 January 1951) is an early activist in the effort to promote awareness and prevent the spread of

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

, notable for his long-distance runs to support his cause and raise money for AIDS service organizations. People Magazine named Earle one of its "20 individuals who shaped the 80's." His first major run, in 1986–87, the American Run for the End of AIDS (A.R.E.A.), started and ended in New York City, covering 9,000 miles around the perimeter of the United States. His second, in 1990, went from San Francisco to Vancouver, the site of

Gay Games The Gay Games is a worldwide sport and cultural event that promotes acceptance of sexual diversity, featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) athletes, artists and other individuals. Founded as the Gay Olympics, it was s ...

III. His third, in 1994, this time leading a seven-person team and using roller skates, went from San Francisco to New York, site of Gay Games IV. He is also active with

ACT UP AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) is an international, grassroots political group working to end the AIDS pandemic. The group works to improve the lives of people with AIDS through direct action, medical research, treatment and advocacy, ...

and was made an Honorary Life Member of the Federation of Gay Games. In 2010 he was named as the winner of the Tom Waddell Award, the highest honor of the Federation of the Gay Games. He also created the International Rainbow Memorial Run, which carries a rainbow flag from San Francisco around the world to the city hosting the current Gay Games. It promotes both AIDS and breast cancer prevention. In his professional life, he worked in New York City as an actor, writer, stage manager, lecturer, archivist, photographer, optical designer, curator and art gallery administrator. He is the subject of an upcoming feature documentary entitled "For the Love of Friends." In 2020, he returns to the stage in New York as an actor and playwright in "For the Love of Friends: A story about the life and work of Brent Nicholson Earle." He was born in

Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagar ...

, and grew up in nearby

Lockport, New York Lockport is both a city and the town that surrounds it in Niagara County, New York, United States. The city is the Niagara county seat, with a population of 21,165 according to 2010 census figures, and an estimated population of 20,305 as of 20 ...

. As of 2020, he is still an AIDS activist in New York City.

References

External links

Human Sexuality Collection at Cornell University Library
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earle, Brent Nicholson 1951 births American HIV/AIDS activists 20th-century American LGBTQ people American LGBTQ rights activists Living people 21st-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century American people 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American dramatists and playwrights Activists from New York (state) People from Lockport, New York People from Niagara Falls, New York