In the landscape of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ history, few organizations have served as a more steadfast anchor than the Shanti Project. Founded on the principle that no one should face life-threatening illness or the isolation of aging alone, the organization has spent decades weaving a safety net for the city’s most vulnerable. At the heart of this legacy are stories like that of Daralt, an 81-year-old artist and activist whose journey—from a caregiver during the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic to a recipient of care—illustrates the profound, cyclical power of community.
A Legacy Forged in the Crucible of the 1980s
To understand Daralt’s current chapter, one must look back to 1988. At that time, the AIDS crisis had decimated the vibrant social fabric of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. As a successful business owner, Daralt found himself in the agonizing position of watching his closest friends succumb to a mysterious and lethal illness.
"Everybody passed away," Daralt reflects, his voice quiet but steady. "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."
Daralt did not simply witness this tragedy from the sidelines. He became an active participant in the survival of his chosen family. He fundraised tirelessly for the Shanti Project, an organization that was then on the front lines of a humanitarian catastrophe. Beyond financial support, he opened his home to those with nowhere else to go, providing shelter and dignity to those society had largely abandoned. This period, characterized by profound grief and the relentless demands of caregiving, left an indelible mark on his psyche. Following the loss of his community, Daralt retreated into a period of isolation and reclusion, a common psychological response to the collective trauma of the era.
The Full Circle: Shanti’s Return of Care
The trajectory of Daralt’s life shifted again in the late 1990s. Recognizing that the man who had once been the caregiver now required support, the Shanti Project re-engaged him through their LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Network (LAASN).
The LAASN program is specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by queer seniors, who often grapple with a lack of traditional family support systems and a history of systemic exclusion. By visiting Daralt in his home and reconnecting him with peer support, Shanti helped bridge the gap between his isolated existence and a renewed sense of purpose.
"It’s… humbling," Daralt admits when discussing his shift from caregiver to recipient. This transition—what many social workers call a "full-circle moment"—is a testament to the longevity of the Shanti model. The organization does not merely provide services; it fosters a lifelong relationship that evolves alongside the needs of the individual.
An Unexpected Creative Renaissance
The most recent, and perhaps most surprising, chapter of Daralt’s life began after he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery. During his recovery, he turned to technology as a means of cognitive engagement, stumbling upon the world of digital music remixing.
What began as a therapeutic experiment in sound design blossomed into a genuine creative passion. Today, at 81, Daralt is an active content creator on TikTok and YouTube, where he shares his remixes with a global audience. The impact of his music has reached far beyond the digital realm. In a moment that underscores the intersection of technology, art, and human connection, a surgeon recently played Daralt’s music during a brain operation. For a man who spent the 1980s haunted by the silence of hospital wards and the finality of death, the idea that his music now provides comfort in an operating room is deeply poetic.
The Intergenerational Bond: Enter Libby
The catalyst for Daralt’s current vitality is his connection with Libby, a Peer Support Volunteer with LAASN. For Libby, the motivation to join the Shanti Project was rooted in a desire to ground herself within the lineage of the San Francisco LGBTQ+ community.
"Intergenerational relationships seemed exciting to me," Libby notes. As a younger queer person, she realized that while she had a vibrant social circle, she lacked a meaningful connection to the generations that had fought for the rights she enjoys today.
Their introduction was instantaneous. In their first phone call, the cultural shorthand of the queer community acted as a bridge. When Daralt asked about her orientation and learned she had a girlfriend, he declared, "So you’re family." That phrase, a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ survival, immediately dismantled the traditional boundaries of a volunteer-client relationship.
The Mechanics of Connection: Music as a Language
Today, the pair meets weekly, their time together characterized less by formal support and more by collaborative creativity. Their sessions often turn into jam sessions, where Libby—a former band member—and Daralt explore the intricacies of music production.
This connection highlights a crucial aspect of Shanti’s mission: the reduction of social isolation through shared interest. For Daralt, teaching Libby his remixing techniques provides a sense of relevance and mastery. For Libby, the experience has provided a mentorship that she didn’t realize she was lacking. "I never expected I’d be remixing," she says. "I never expected to connect over music."
Implications for Aging and Community Support
The relationship between Daralt and Libby is not an anomaly; it is a successful prototype for how society should address the growing crisis of elder loneliness. As the "Silver Tsunami" approaches, the LGBTQ+ community faces unique hurdles. Many elders are "double-closeted," fearing discrimination in long-term care facilities, and are statistically more likely to live alone than their heterosexual peers.
The implications of the Shanti Project’s LAASN model are significant:
- Reciprocity: By positioning the volunteer-client relationship as a mutual exchange of skills and stories, the organization avoids the patronizing power dynamics often found in traditional social services.
- Identity-Based Care: The recognition of "family" as a core component of the intervention ensures that the support is culturally competent and emotionally resonant.
- Creative Engagement: The promotion of artistic outlets for seniors, such as Daralt’s music, serves as a vital tool for cognitive health and emotional expression.
A Vision of Pride
For Libby, this experience has redefined her understanding of Pride. It is no longer just about the parade or the political advocacy; it is about the quiet, persistent act of ensuring no one is left behind. "It introduced me to a larger LGBTQ community," she says, emphasizing that the true value of her volunteer work lies in the preservation of the community’s history through its people.
Daralt’s journey—from a grieving man in the 1980s to a digital creator and mentor in the 2020s—serves as a living archive. He represents the survival of a generation that lost too many, and through the Shanti Project, he has found a way to turn that history of survival into a present of creation.
As we look toward the future of social support systems, the story of Daralt and Libby reminds us that the most effective intervention is often the simplest: a shared passion, a listening ear, and the unwavering belief that every member of the community has a story worth hearing. The Shanti Project remains, as it has for decades, the stage upon which these essential, life-affirming human connections are made possible.
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