In the heart of San Francisco, a city synonymous with liberation and the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, lives a man whose personal timeline mirrors the broader evolution of queer survival in the late 20th century. Nelson D’Alerta, a performer, artist, and survivor, has navigated a path from the restrictive shadows of post-revolutionary Cuba to the neon-lit stages of the Bay Area. His story is not merely one of survival; it is a testament to the transformative power of community, the enduring necessity of art, and the life-saving impact of organizations like the Shanti Project.
The Early Years: Defiance in the Dark
Born in 1954, Nelson D’Alerta’s early life was defined by a stark contrast between his internal world and his external environment. Growing up in Cuba, where the political and social climate made the expression of queer identity both dangerous and clandestine, Nelson learned early that authenticity was a high-stakes endeavor.
During his youth, he found solace in the forbidden. In the safety of private, underground homes, he would experiment with his mother’s clothing and perform drag. These were not just rehearsals for a future stage career; they were, at the time, his only moments of unadulterated freedom. To be gay, or to participate in the subversive world of drag, was to risk imprisonment. Yet, for Nelson, the joy of self-discovery outweighed the fear of discovery by the state. These hidden performances provided a vital glimpse of his true self, a foundation upon which he would eventually build a life of radical honesty.
Chronology of a Journey
Nelson’s trajectory is marked by pivotal moments of migration and self-actualization:
- 1954: Nelson D’Alerta is born in Cuba.
- Early 1980s: After catching a glimpse of San Francisco on a screen—a moment he describes as a siren song—Nelson makes the harrowing decision to leave his homeland.
- 1983: Nelson arrives in the Bay Area, finding for the first time a society where he can breathe.
- Mid-1980s: The emergence of the AIDS epidemic. Nelson navigates the loss of ten friends in a rapid, soul-crushing succession.
- Mid-1990s: Seeking stability and connection, he encounters the Shanti Project, an organization that provides the emotional and logistical scaffolding he needs to endure.
- 2023: Nelson is paired with his current HIV Care Navigator, Gio, deepening his relationship with Shanti and reinvigorating his commitment to his artistic goals.
The San Francisco Transformation
Upon his arrival in San Francisco in 1983, the weight of the closet finally began to lift. "When I came to San Francisco, I finally felt free," Nelson recalls. He dove headlong into the city’s vibrant nightlife, adopting the persona of Catherine White.
Catherine White was more than a drag character; she was the physical manifestation of the self that had been hidden in Cuba. Through the art of drag, Nelson found a community that didn’t just tolerate him but celebrated his presence. However, this period of liberation was met with the dark shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The 1980s in San Francisco were a period of immense trauma, as the community was decimated by the virus. Nelson lost ten of his closest friends during this era, a loss that would have shattered many, but instead, it forged his resolve.
Shanti Project: A Legacy of Care
The Shanti Project, founded in 1974, has long been a pillar of the San Francisco queer community. It was in the mid-1990s that Nelson first walked through their doors. At the time, he was looking for support, but what he found was something deeper: a sense of belonging that mirrored the underground kinship he had known in Cuba, but now practiced in the light.
"Shanti gave me that feeling again," Nelson explains. "Like I belonged."
In the years that followed, Nelson sustained himself through a career in a salon—a profession that allowed him to connect with people but ultimately exacted a physical toll. Following back surgery and the compounding challenges of aging with HIV, the support of the Shanti Project became a literal lifeline.
The Role of the Care Navigator
Central to Nelson’s current stability is his HIV Care Navigator, Gio. Joining Shanti in 2023, Gio represents the new generation of caretakers who view their work not as a bureaucratic necessity, but as a form of human connection.
"It’s connection. It’s community," Gio notes. "I don’t see it as work. It gives me a sense of being useful and helping make life easier for people." For Gio, who moved to San Francisco in 2015 and received support during his own transition into the city, his role at Shanti is a "full circle" moment. It is an act of reciprocity—returning the grace he was once shown.
The partnership between Nelson and Gio transcends medical logistics. While Gio assists with the complexities of healthcare navigation, he also facilitates the "human" side of care: long, grounding conversations and, notably, access to the arts. By securing tickets to the opera and ballet, Gio has helped Nelson reconnect with his lifelong passion for performance, ensuring that his life is defined by more than just his diagnosis.
The Echoes of Art and Memory
The impact of this support was best exemplified during a recent trip to the ballet. As the music swelled and the dancers moved, Nelson was struck by a powerful memory of his grandfather in Florence. His grandfather had long ago recognized the artistic fire in the young boy, telling him, "I want to take you to a place that you will want to be your whole life."
Sitting in the theater, decades removed from his childhood in Cuba, Nelson understood the prophecy. His grandfather hadn’t been talking about a physical location in Italy; he was speaking about the life of an artist. Through the struggle of his youth, the catharsis of drag, the grief of the epidemic, and the steadying hand of organizations like Shanti, Nelson had finally arrived at the destination his grandfather promised.
Implications: A Model for Aging with HIV
Nelson’s story highlights a critical issue in modern public health: the aging population of long-term HIV survivors. As people living with HIV reach their 60s and 70s, the needs shift from acute crisis management to holistic care that addresses loneliness, mobility, and the maintenance of identity.
The Shanti Project’s model—which emphasizes peer-based, compassionate care—serves as a blueprint for how cities can support their aging LGBTQ+ populations. By focusing on the "whole person" (the artist, the friend, the neighbor) rather than just the "patient," organizations can drastically improve the quality of life for those who survived the darkest days of the epidemic.
Choosing Happiness: The Future of Nelson D’Alerta
Today, Nelson remains a beacon of resilience. When asked about his perspective on his life, he rejects the bitterness that he acknowledges he has every right to feel. "I have a lot of reasons to be angry," he says, "but I’m not because I choose happiness."
This commitment to joy is not passive. Nelson is currently drafting a play—a narrative about a drag performer living with HIV. It is a story of visibility and truth, intended to serve as a mirror for those who, like him, have had to fight to be seen.
"Pride means being proud to be gay," Nelson says, reflecting on the annual San Francisco Pride events he has attended since his arrival. "No more hiding or being ashamed."
As the world continues to change, Nelson D’Alerta stands as a reminder of the power of the human spirit to overcome systemic oppression. Whether he is on stage as Catherine White or living his quiet, daily life with the support of his community, he is no longer hiding. He has reclaimed his narrative, proving that while survival is an act of strength, choosing to live authentically is the ultimate victory.
About the Author
