Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100

This hour-long documentary highlights the significant impact Ruth Ellis had on the LGBTQ+ community, particularly within the African-American context. It recounts her journey from her birth in 1899 in Springfield, IL, to her life in Detroit, where she became a pioneering businesswoman and a vital figure in the local queer history.

Ruth Ellis operated her own print shop until she was 65 and hosted numerous gatherings for African-American gays and lesbians during a time when segregation barred them from white homosexual spaces. The film not only showcases her personal story but also places her as a witness to significant historical events, including the civil rights movement and the riots in Detroit during the 1960s. This documentary serves as an important record of queer history and the intersection of race and sexuality.