Nicky Calma, aka Tita Aida

Nicky Calma, aka Tita Aida

This article relates to So Many Stars

In Caro de Robertis' work of transcribed oral history, So Many Stars, one of the interviewees is Nicky Calma. She shares the story of how, along with others at the Filipino Task Force on AIDS, she created the drag persona of Tita Aida in order to educate the people in her community about HIV/AIDS.

Born in 1967 to a Catholic family in the Philippines, Calma immigrated to the United States and settled in San Francisco at the age of 22. Once there, she found support among transgender women, mostly African American, whom she met on the street, as well as with her fellow Filipino immigrants, eventually leading her to join the Asian AIDS Project and work with the Filipino Task Force on AIDS.

The character they created together drew from multiple sources of inspiration. Her name is based on how Filipinos were already discussing HIV/AIDS—it translates to "Aunty AIDS," and was a common slang term for the disease in that community. Aspects of the character's personality were inspired by Doña Buding, a comic, nouveau riche character played by Filipina comedian Nanette Inventor. Tita Aida's first performance was in 1990. She fought the disease's stigma and educated audiences about prevention through the Rubber Club, guerilla theater productions often hosted at the N'Touch nightclub. These productions were structured like advice shows in which Tita Aida responded to fictional letters asking for help on topics related to HIV/AIDS. One famous demonstration involved showing how silicon-based lubricant can reduce the effectiveness of condoms by using it to pop a balloon. In addition to teaching about prevention, she reached out to those who had contracted AIDS. At the time, stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS could lead to patients becoming extremely isolated. Tita Aida visited them to provide comfort and support.

She also performed at AsiaSF, a groundbreaking cabaret and restaurant that opened in 1998. The venue became known for the celebrated performances of the "Ladies of AsiaSF," a group of transgender entertainers, Nicky Calma among them. The restaurant closed its doors in 2024, citing difficulties adapting to the post-Covid nightlife scene.

In the years since Tita Aida's debut, Calma has continued her activist work both on and off stage. Her work during the AIDS crisis has led to a decades-long career at the San Francisco Community Health Center, destigmatizing and promoting awareness of HIV in the city's LGBTQ+ and Asian and Pacific Islander communities. She is Director of Community Programs and HIV Services and a member of the city's Trans Advisory committee.

In 2024, Calma was named Hermana Mayor at the San Francisco Pistahan Parade and Festival, the largest Filipino cultural festival on the West Coast. The Hermana Mayor serves as parade leader and the designation is intended to honor a respected member of the Filipino community. She was the first trans woman to receive this recognition.

Though great progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, there is still work to be done. As Calma says in So Many Stars, "Stigma is still the strongest enemy here."

Nicky Calma aka Tita Aida receiving an award at a Trans Day of Visibility celebration in 2016, photo by Pax Ahimsa Gethen CC BY-SA 4.0

Filed under People, Eras & Events

This article relates to So Many Stars. It first ran in the June 18, 2025 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.