Activism
After being diagnosed with AIDS, Nicols decided that he couldn't be quiet about his illness any longer. He was working to become an Eagle Scout, and felt that if he wanted to be a leader, he had to be willing to talk about his experience. In an interview with People, Nicols said, "It was time I got it off my chest and did good with it."
Nicols's parents were originally uncertain about his plan to tell the world that he had AIDS. They were concerned about how the town would react, and didn't want their family to experience the animosity that others had. However, they talked about it and decided that they needed to respect their son's choice and support him.
Nicols started by telling his close friends and local school officials. His friends were shocked, but supportive, and the Cooperstown school board volunteered to help Nicols tell the world. The Nicols family, reassured by the reaction so far, went on to the next step: a press conference in which Nicols would tell the public.
Read more about this topic: Henry Nicols