Oral history interview with Nicolas Shi, 1958 -

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Nicolas Shi is a Chinese immigrant from El Salvador who has been living in Washington DC since 1986. In this interview he talks about his experiences moving to the United States and his career as an artist. He shares his experiences meeting his husband and coming out to his family. He also provides insights on the Asian LGBT+ community in Washington DC and his involvement with a group called Asians and Friends. Nicolas talks about the newsletter, Silk Road, produced by Asians and Friends and how Lambda Rising provided it in their store. He also talks about a program Asians and Friends started during the AIDS epidemic to deliver food to Asians with AIDS. Nicolas also talks about tensions between Asians and Friends and a different Asian LGBT+ group. He theorizes why there is a lack of a similar organization for LGBT+ Latinos in Washington DC. Nicolas talks about the Dupont Circle neighborhood and how it has changed over the years. He talks about some of places in the neighborhood such as Lambda Rising, Chaos, JR’s, Trumpets, Friends, and P Street Station. He also talks about establishments in southeast DC like Lost and Found, where he was harassed by police. Nicolas also discusses the subject manner of his art and how he got into art as a career. 

Featuring commentary from his husband, Frank Blackburn

Further Listening

• Frank Blackburn (RHP - Oral History)
• Nicolas Shi (Logan Circle - Oral History)

1986-present

Nicolas Shi was born in El Salvador to full-Chinese parents, but moved to United States for college to escape building civil conflict. Shi moved to Washington in 1986 to start work. Not yet fully out of the closet, he secured brief relationships through The Washington Blade and frequented many gay bars and restaurants in Dupont Circle, where he often felt invisible. He sought out company from other Asians and eventually helped found and manage the social group 'Asians and Friends' even running their newsletter and marching with the group in early Pride parades. He experienced a lack of community among gay Latins but found a home in the Asian community despite tensions over Asian fetishes and emasculation. He and a partner bought a house between Dupont and Logan circle in 1986 and has lived there ever since, noting the changes in the neighborhood, which he borders with P St and 16th St NW. The rest of the family remains in the El Salvador with varying levels of acceptance of his sexual orientation and marriage to a long-term partner. He talks about 'de-gaying' the house when his relatives came to visit, until eventually coming out. Places mentioned include Lambda Rising bookstore, Friends, a showtunes piano bar, Mr. P's, P Street Station, The Fireside, JR's, Trumpets, Lost & Found and The Glory Hole.

Includes brief commentary from Shi's husband.

Moriah Petty

Dupont Circle neighborhood, Washington DC

Available

01:23:01