In the landscape of San Francisco’s storied LGBTQ+ history, few organizations have served as a more consistent anchor than the Shanti Project. Founded in 1974, Shanti has spent five decades providing compassionate care to those navigating life-threatening illness and isolation. Yet, the true measure of its impact is found not in its institutional longevity, but in the individual lives it touches—stories like that of Daralt, an 81-year-old pioneer, and his volunteer, Libby, whose unlikely friendship has transcended generational divides through the universal language of music.
The Weight of History: Daralt’s Early Years
To understand the significance of the support Daralt currently receives, one must first look at the role he played during the darkest days of the 1980s. Long before he became a client of Shanti’s LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Network (LAASN), Daralt was a pillar of his community.
As the AIDS epidemic tore through the fabric of San Francisco’s queer population, Daralt, then a business owner, found himself on the front lines. With a profound sense of duty and empathy, he did not merely donate to the cause; he opened his home to those who had been cast out or left destitute by the ravages of the disease.
“Everybody passed away,” Daralt recalls, his voice soft but weighted with the gravity of his memories. “They’d have to go to the hospitals to die or fly home to die with their family… I helped pay for them to get there.”
This period of intense caregiving, while rooted in love, exacted a heavy toll. By the late 1990s, the cumulative trauma of losing an entire generation of friends led Daralt into a period of deep isolation and reclusion. It was then that Shanti Project returned the favor, stepping into his life to provide the same level of care he had once so selflessly offered to others.
The Full Circle: From Caregiver to Care-Recipient
The transition from being the "strong one" to the one in need of support is a difficult psychological journey for many, particularly those of a generation raised to believe in stoicism. For Daralt, accepting help was a humbling experience, one that required him to redefine his own sense of self-worth.
“It’s… humbling,” Daralt admits. The Shanti Project’s LAASN program specializes in this exact kind of bridge-building, ensuring that LGBTQ+ elders do not fall through the cracks of a society that often overlooks its aging population. Through home visits and ongoing engagement, the organization helped Daralt re-emerge from his solitude, reconnecting him with a community that had long since evolved, but never forgotten his contributions.
A Second Act: The Unexpected Beat
Perhaps the most surprising chapter in Daralt’s life began after he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery. Seeking a way to fill his time during recovery, he turned to technology, discovering an latent talent for music remixing. What began as a clinical distraction quickly blossomed into a vibrant creative passion.
Today, at 81, Daralt is a content creator, sharing his remixed tracks on TikTok and YouTube. His enthusiasm for the craft is infectious. “It surprises me that an 81-year-old man enjoys this the way I do,” he laughs.
The reach of his art has extended into surreal territory. In a testament to the power of his work, a physician recently played Daralt’s remixes during a brain surgery operation. It is a profound irony that the man who spent decades holding the hands of those transitioning from life to death is now providing the soundtrack for life-saving medical procedures.
The Catalyst: Enter Libby
The arrival of Libby, a Peer Support Volunteer with LAASN, served as the final piece of this puzzle. For Libby, the motivation to volunteer was rooted in a desire for connection. As a younger queer person living in the modern Bay Area, she realized she possessed a significant gap in her social circle: she lacked the presence of queer elders.
“Intergenerational relationships seemed exciting to me,” Libby explains. When she was paired with Daralt, the connection was instantaneous. During their first phone call, a simple inquiry about her relationship status—"Are you straight, gay, or bi?"—led to a moment of profound recognition. Upon learning that Libby had a girlfriend, Daralt’s response was immediate and welcoming: “So you’re family.”
For Libby, that phrase was the key that unlocked a deeper level of comfort and belonging. It validated her identity and cemented a bond that has since evolved into a weekly ritual of creative collaboration.
Chronology of Connection
- 1988: Daralt begins actively fundraising for the Shanti Project and housing friends living with HIV/AIDS.
- Late 1990s: Following a period of profound grief and isolation, Shanti begins providing supportive care for Daralt.
- Post-Surgery (Recent Years): Daralt undergoes a quadruple bypass and discovers a passion for digital music production.
- Present Day: Libby joins the LAASN volunteer program, is paired with Daralt, and the two begin their collaborative jam sessions, blending their musical backgrounds.
The Implications of Intergenerational Solidarity
The friendship between Daralt and Libby is more than a heartwarming anecdote; it is a vital example of how organizations like Shanti can combat the epidemic of loneliness that plagues the elderly.
Research consistently indicates that intergenerational programs provide significant benefits to both parties. For the elder, it provides cognitive stimulation, a sense of purpose, and a reduction in the symptoms of depression. For the younger volunteer, it provides a sense of history, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of the struggles that paved the way for current rights.
“I never expected I’d be remixing,” Libby notes. “I never expected to connect over music.” The weekly sessions, which have moved beyond formal volunteering into genuine friendship, are characterized by laughter and a shared exploration of production techniques. For Libby, the experience has been transformative, introducing her to a "larger LGBTQ community" she hadn’t fully accessed before.
Official Perspective: The Shanti Mission
The Shanti Project has long maintained that its mission is not just to provide services, but to foster human connection. In the context of the LGBTQ+ community, this is essential. Many queer elders experienced the loss of their chosen families during the AIDS crisis and have few, if any, biological family members to rely on as they age.
By facilitating relationships like that of Daralt and Libby, Shanti is addressing the "hidden" needs of the community: the need for relevance, for shared history, and for the joy of creative partnership. These connections serve as a vital lifeline, ensuring that the history of the movement is preserved while its future is built through the mutual respect of different generations.
Conclusion: The Power of Community
As Pride month celebrations arrive, the story of Daralt and Libby offers a poignant reflection on what Pride truly means. It is not merely about parades or symbols; it is about the quiet, persistent work of showing up for one another.
"Pride means community, connection, and everyone having the ability to feel safe, protected, and fully themselves," says Libby.
In the intersection of an 81-year-old music producer and a young volunteer, we see the resilience of the human spirit. We see a man who survived the greatest tragedy of his era, only to find a new rhythm in the digital age. And we see a young woman who, by seeking out her elders, found a family she didn’t know she was missing.
Ultimately, the Shanti Project’s work with Daralt and Libby reminds us that while technology and society may change, the human need for connection remains constant. Through shared identity, shared humanity, and an unlikely mutual love of music, they have turned the silence of isolation into a symphony of support. This is the power of community; this is the legacy of Shanti.
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