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Fat Crush: Ruth Ellis Center

Written by Coven Crew February 20, 2026

Some organizations respond to crisis by trying to fix what’s broken.
The Ruth Ellis Center does something different: they create space.


Based in Detroit, Ruth Ellis Center supports LGBTQ+ young people, many of whom are navigating housing instability, family rejection, and systems that weren’t built with them in mind. Their work is grounded in trauma-informed care, long-term support, and the belief that young people deserve safety, dignity, and the freedom to show up as themselves.

That support shows up in very real ways. Ruth Ellis Center provides housing and basic needs, access to healthcare and HIV prevention, education and skill-building, and advocacy rooted in long-term wellbeing. Their work meets young people where they are, with support that adapts as needs change and focuses on building futures that feel possible.

The organization is named after Ruth Ellis, a Black lesbian who opened her home to queer community in the mid-1900s, at a time when few safe spaces existed. That legacy still shapes how the center operates today. Community comes first. Care is practical, relational, and sustained over time.

What stood out to us most in our conversation with their team was their clarity. They’re not seeking quick wins. They’re focused on meeting young people where they are, reducing barriers, and building programs that support real, livable futures. Rest, joy, and self-expression aren’t extras here. They’re part of how healing happens.

We’re honored to feature Ruth Ellis Center as this month’s Fat Crush and to share more about the remarkable work they’re doing right now.

Q&A 

Fat and the Moon: What is your work in the world right now?

Ruth Ellis Center: Our work in the world right now is creating spaces with LGBTQ+ young people where they feel safe and supported and that align to their vision of a positive future. Many are unhoused, facing barriers to basic needs, and lacking the resources to navigate complex traumas including rejection from their families, physical and mental health struggles, and discrimination and challenges at school, at work, and in our communities. This is more important now than ever as young LGBTQ+ folks, particularly those from historically excluded identities, benefit from trauma-informed support rooted in safety and acceptance.

 

FM: How did you find your way to this work (or how did it find you)?

REC: Ruth Ellis, a Black, lesbian born in 1899 and who lived here adult life as out is, to no surprise, the spirit behind the work that we do. Hosting parties in Detroit from LGBTQ+ people during the mid-1900’s was a rejection of social norms that created space for people to be themselves when the spaces for them to do elsewhere did not exist. Ruth showed everyone she met the spirit of community, inclusion, and acceptance in a world that had not provided those spaces to LGBTQ+ people, an ideal that came to life in Ruth Ellis Center in 2000 when a young person was rejected from their home and a group of LGBTQ+ community members came together to fill a lack of available services and we’ve been meeting LGBTQ+ young people wherever they are ever since.

 

FM: What do you see happening in the world that you want to support, protect, or grow?

REC: In the face of struggle and injustice, the authenticity of LGBTQ+ young people, Black and Brown voices, and humanity in the face of injustice all represent a resilience that embodies our approach to how we serve our community. The creation of spaces where young people are welcomed in to show up as who they are is complemented with affirming programs aims to support people by removing the barriers they face and letting their true colors show. All of this serves to drive physical and mental wellness, advocacy rooted in compassion, and practiced care grounded in dignity and equity that can change lives.

 

FM: When things feel heavy, what helps you ground yourself or return to your body?

REC: The past, present, and future realities of the support of LGBTQ+ young people is something we talk about often as an organization. We are incredibly lucky to have a culture, both internally and in our programs, which encourages creating space to re-center ourselves, our community, and how we approach the challenges faced.

There is a sense of comfort that comes from rooting ourselves in the fact that this is not new to our community, and this will not be the first time we have outlasted the challenges we face. Looking at the history of those before us who broke down other seemingly more insurmountable challenges is what brought us to where we are. It is the spirit of Ruth Ellis herself that reminds us rest is core to hope, reaffirming the knowledge that our community has always used joy, authenticity, community, art, and cultural movements to give a voice to the stories to ensure they are heard, respected, and protected.

 

FM: What’s nourishing you lately (inside or out)?

REC: The resilience of our young people who continue to find community, show up as themselves, and support one another. The authenticity and vibrancy of self-expression serve as a stark contrast to the ongoing attempts to silence queer voices, art, joy, and the programs and services that create a positive future for everyone. Whether loud and vibrant, calm, and reflective, or warm and welcoming, taking moments to connect and recharge, giving a voice to ourselves and others all continue to reaffirm for what (and whom) we stand.

 

FM: What Fat and the Moon potion do you love?

REC: There were many fan favorites from Fat and the Moon’s donation to Ruth Ellis Center, but we are all about anything that heals and replenishes while releasing back to people in all forms. BUT if we HAD to name the top contenders, it would be the aloe lotion and the all cream. 


FM: Is there anything you’d like to share with our community—something you’re working on, an upcoming release or event, or a way folks can support you?

REC: We are leaning in the power of our community and the endless ways they continue to show up for the LGBTQ+ young people we serve more than ever. As an organization, we see continuity and health in these efforts but also recognize the pressure communities are under from first- and second-hand trauma and stress, rising costs meeting greater need from expanded communities, and forces that seek to drive us apart.

We continue to be excited by so many of our current and upcoming programs, but for folks looking to get involved right away, Strive for Pride is one that launches in early summer. Born out of an earlier supporter program that aimed to create community through outdoor exercise during the pandemic, this initiative creates space for folks and groups to fundraise for Ruth Ellis Center through any community lens that drives, energizes, and emboldens them. From hobby groups and run clubs, to art shows, group dinners, and clothing or food drives, we understand that community builds impact and impact goes further when we strive for it together.

Obviously, we would encourage folks to keep an eye out on our social and communication channels for updates on Stride for Pride in the coming months. For those looking to get involved right away, you can find ways to volunteer on our website here or donate directly to help fund our services at this page. As public funding sources become less predictable, any support has a tremendous impact on our young people for our young people and the resources our organization relies on to carry out our mission.

 

FM: Who do you have a Fat Crush on?

REC: Well, without blushing too much, anyone out there expressing queer joy, those who are working up the courage to live a more authentic life, and the resilient outcasts showing up where their voice is needed most. The brave rebels who are welcoming loved ones to everyone they meet embody our namesake Ruth Ellis and we see it in the people in our community every day. They enter our lives as encouraging mentors and resourceful advocates who color our communities with the most beautiful expression of what it means to lead with compassion and continue Ruth’s legacy of resilience.

 

LINKS:

Ruth Ellis Center Website

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