Ellen DeGeneres was one of 21 recipients honored Tuesday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“In a career spanning three decades, Ellen DeGeneres has lifted our spirits and brought joy to our lives as a stand-up comic, actor and television star,” a White House aides said summarizing her career. “At a pivotal moment, her courage and candor helped change the hearts and minds of million of Americans, accelerating our nations constant drive towards equality and acceptance for all.”
Variety reported that as President Obama bestowed DeGeneres with the medal, the comedian teared up, after Obama made a statement about DeGeneres’s extensive efforts towards not only the LGBT community, but also to the nation as a whole.
“It’s easy to forget now when we’ve come so far, where now marriage is equal under the law, just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago,” President Obama said. “Just how important it was. Not just to the LGBT community, but for all of us.”
Congratulations to Ellen and all 21 recipients.
