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Thread: Ruth C. Ellis

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    1,234

    Ruth C. Ellis

    Born July 23, 1899, in Springfield, Illinois
    Died Oct. 5, 2000
    The world’s oldest openly lesbian woman died in her sleep at age 101!
    Ruth C. Ellis came out of the closet in 1919. Her first crush was her high
    school gym teacher in 1915, in Springfield, IL. She didn't meet her
    life companion of 34 years, Ceciline "Babe" Franklin, until 1936. In
    1937, they moved Detroit.Talk about a risk taker, Ms. Ellis was Black,
    a business owner- printing business in Northwestern Detroit-Ellis and
    Franklin Printing. She also taught herself photography and
    hand-colored painting.Openly lesbian in 1920s America, her life was the
    subject of the documentary film "Living in Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100."
    She also appeared in two episodes of the documentary TV series "In the Life."
    From 1946 to 1971, Ruth and Babe's home becomes known as the "Gay
    Spot." For generations of African American gays and lesbians in the
    Midwest, Ruth and Babe's home provided an alternative to the bar
    scene that discriminated against blacks. Her home was a refuge of
    sorts to African Americans who came "out" before the civil rights
    movement and Stonewall. Ruth and Babe, offered lodging to black gay
    men newly arrived from the South.
    Last edited by Serendipity09; 07-23-2009 at 01:19 AM.


  2. #2
    Kathyf Guest
    I saw a sory about her on Tv. very Brave woman.

  3. #3
    erin Guest
    I've never heard of her before, but how incredibly brave, not only to be an openly gay woman in those days, but to be an openly gay BLACK woman in those days, took alot of guts. I definatele admire her courage and unwillingness to hide her true self.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    6,302
    She would be a nice person I would like to meet.
    Last edited by theotherlondon; 07-20-2009 at 05:05 PM.

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