Before Stonewall, before Pride parades, before the word “queer” was reclaimed—there was Ruth Ellis. Born in 1899, Ruth lived boldly and authentically as an out Black lesbian for over a century.

Ruth Ellis was a trailblazer who ran her own printing business, built a safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth in Detroit, and became a living legend in her 90s. We also dive into how her legacy continues today through the incredible work of the Ruth Ellis Center—one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting LGBTQ+ youth of color.

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