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Ruth Ellis (1899 - 2000)
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 Living
With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100
Born on July 23, 1899, Ruth Ellis is thought to
be the oldest "out" African American lesbian living
today. Even today, at the age of 100 she is an inspiration to
others. For instead of rocking mindlessly in a retirement home
chair, she is still in action -- with her own website, a daily
workout schedule and she is even a mean dancer. This enlightening
documentary allows us to explore her rich past and marvel at her
today. We learn that everything is possible. A vital contribution
of lesbian/gay history.
Winner of the "Best Documentary" Audience Award at the
San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and at the Los Angeles
International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
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From Sisters
In The Life
By Yvonne Welbon
Excerpt:
The first time I laid eyes on Ruth C. Ellis she was dancing. I was
at the 1997 National Women's Music Festival women of color
dance.When my girlfriend and I had to pause for water and rest,
Ruth did not. I wondered how old she was. I later learned that
Ruth C. Ellis was 97 years old.
Born July 23, 1899, in Springfield, Illinois, Ruth C. Ellis is the
oldest "out" African American lesbian I know. When I met
her, I was indeed intrigued. I wanted to know everything about
her. I could not begin to image the almost one-hundred years of
history that was living in the 4'8" tall woman that everyone
calls Ruth.
Ruth C. Ellis has always been out. 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. There Ruth C. Ellis becomes the first woman to own her
own printing business in Northwestern Detroit-Ellis and Franklin
Printing. She also taught herself photography and hand-colored
painting.
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Excerpt:
My life has been nothing special. I am a quiet
person who came from a very ordinary, middle-class Negro family. I
was born July 23, 1899 in Springfield, Illinois...After high
school in Springfield, a neighborhood man taught me how to set
type and run his presses...I had one real girlfriend. Her name was
Ceciline. We called her Babe. She was the only person I ever lived
with...We lived together for 30 years...When I decided to have a
[print] shop of my own, my girlfriend and I bought a home...Our
house was noted for being a 'gay spot.' There weren't very many
places in Detroit you could go back in 1937, 1940...people used to
come from every place... Babe died in 1973...I love to dance, bowl
and go to classical music recitals. I have so many young friends
who treat me wonderfully...I'm having a lot of fun!..."
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By Rhonda Smith
Excerpt:
For the past 20 years, Lesbians and Gay men
nationwide have been showing Ruth Ellis a good time. This summer,
many are expected to gather in Michigan to celebrate her 100th
birthday.
"The party is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on
July 23rd," Ellis said Monday, from the senior citizens
center in downtown Detroit where she lives. "Everybody and
anybody is invited."
The Gay community¹s love affair with Ellis
began when she was around 80. It started when this elderly black
woman slipped a note to Jaye Spiro, a white female who once taught
self-defense classes and karate to residents of the senior
citizens center where Ellis then lived...
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Names Index:
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G H
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K L
M N
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| Authors
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