Ruth Ellis Center Holds "Voices" to Benefit LGBT Youth

While the recent ruling against Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage has carried the headlines regarding equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens of our state, hundreds of LGBT youth in Detroit face homelessness, hunger, violence and significant traumas as a result of who they are.

Ruth Ellis Center, a youth services organization located in Highland Park, MI, will shed light on this national crisis at their annual fundraising event "Voices" and provide a platform for youth to showcase their strength, resiliency and passion through an original composition featuring music, dance and spoken word.

"While significant progress has been made in regard to marriage equality, there is a generation of young people struggling to survive because of who they are," said Mark Erwin, Director of Community Development. "It is these youth who are truly paying the price of discrimination due to sexual orientation or gender identity. 'Voices' offers an opportunity for these youth to bring awareness to this tragedy and impact change."

Guests will enjoy a strolling dinner, cocktails, silent auction and marketplace featuring local businesses that support the work of Ruth Ellis Center. A portion of all sales generated from the marketplace will be donated to the Center and 100 percent of event proceeds will directly benefit the hundreds of youth the Center serves each year. The event is being presented by Lear Corporation.

The youth performance consists of an original composition, developed by the youth with the assistance of classical composer Paola Marquez, renowned Detroit electronic musician Kevin Reynolds, spoken word artist Shawntai Brown, and internationally acclaimed choreographer Adesola Akinleye. The piece depicts the challenges many LGBTQ youth face and the journey to find acceptance, hope and community.

"The Center has been working with runaway, homeless and at-risk LGBT youth and those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity for 15 years now," said Erwin.

The Center was established in 1999 due to a single act of violence towards a young man who was experiencing homelessness and identified as gay. Community members quickly realized there were few resources available for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness in Detroit and came up with a mission to provide short-term and long-term residential safe space and support services for runway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning youth. It is estimated that in the United States up to 40 percent of all runaway and homeless youth identify as LGBTQ.

The Ruth Ellis Center is named in honor of the life and work of Ruth Ellis, a respected and loved member of the Detroit LGBT community. Often recognized as the first "Out" African American Lesbian activist and the first woman to own her own printing company in the City of Detroit, Ruth paved the way for many to follow.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Ellis provided shelter, physical support and spiritual affirmation to those whose race, sexual orientation or both set them apart from the dominant culture. The Center's work with homeless, runaway and at-risk youth and young adults in our community is built upon her model of responsibility to oneself and one's community. Ruth lived to be 101, seeing Ruth Ellis Center come to being just before her passing in 2000.

Ruth Ellis Center operates two facilities in the Detroit area. Their Second Stories Drop In Center located in Highland Park provides basic safety-net services including food, clothing, showers, HIV testing and support groups in addition to individual, family and group mental health services.

Ruth's House, located just a short distance away from the Center in Detroit is a State of Michigan Licensed and Contracted Residential Foster Care facility for LGBTQ youth between the ages of 12 and 17. A recent report released by UCLA's Williams Institute reveals that in some cities as many as 1 in 5 foster youth identify as LGBT.

"Voices" will be held on September 12 at the College for Creative Studies, 460 W. Baltimore St. in Detroit. A VIP reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the main event will begin at 7 p.m. For tickets, or to support the Ruth Ellis Center, visit www.ruthelliscenter.org