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Inspiration November 22, 2016
Ellen DeGeneres fought back tears Tuesday as she joined 21 other stellar honorees to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor.
It was a deeply emotional moment as President Barack Obama presented the award-winning comedian and host with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her positive contributions to society and culture.
“Today, everyday [and] in every way, Ellen counters what too often divides us with the countless things that bind us together,” Obama said. “[She] inspires us to be better one joke, one dance at a time.”
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After every episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show, ” which has been on the air since 2003, DeGeneres reminds her viewers to “be kind to one another.” Something she didn’t remember was her ID, which delayed her entrance to the White House.
Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian in 1997. “It’s easy to forget now, when we’ve come so far [and] when marriage equality 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,” Obama added.
Her coming out was an important moment for the LGBTQ community and the rest of the nation. It was vital for everyone “to see somebody so full of kindness and light, somebody we liked so much … challenge our own assumptions [and] remind us that we have more in common than we realize [to] push our country in the direction of justice,” the president said. “What an incredible burden that was to bear.”
The others honored at the White House ceremony, drawn from music, entertainment, sports and industry, have also borne the burden of pushing the nation forward. Other showbiz honorees included Diana Ross, Robert De Niro, Cicely Tyson, Tom Hanks and Bruce Springsteen.
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial architect Maya Lin received the award for her contributions to art and architecture. Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, also known as “the first lady of software,” was given a posthumous award for her revolutionary work in computer programming an development.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation’s security, world peace and other cultural endeavors. For a list of all recipients, visit the White House website.
