WATCH: Obama Chokes Up While Presenting A Teary Ellen W/ Medal Of Freedom

“It’s easy to forget now when we’ve come so far, where now marriage is equal under law, just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago. 

Just how important it was. Not just for the LGBT community, but for all of us.

To see somebody so full of kindness and light, somebody we liked so much, somebody who could be our neighbour or our colleague or our sister; challenge our own assumptions. Remind us that we have more in common than we realise. Push our country in the direction of justice. 

What an incredible burden that was to bear. To risk your career like that; people don’t do that very often. And then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders.”

“But it’s like Ellen says, ‘we all want a tortilla chip that can support the weight of guacamole’. Which really makes no sense to me. 

But I thought I would break the mood, because I was getting choked up.”

“But she did pay a price. We didn’t remember this. I hadn’t remembered it. 

She did, for a pretty long stretch of time – even in Hollywood. 

And yet, today, every day, in every way, Ellen counters what often divides us, with the countless things that bind us together, inspires us to be better, one joke, one dance at a time.”

“In a career spanning three decades, Ellen DeGeneres has lifted our spirits and brought joy to our lives as a standup comic, actor and television star.

In every role, she reminds us to be kind to one another and to treat people as each of us wants to be treated. At a pivotal moment, her courage and candor helped change the hearts and minds of millions of Americans, accelerating our nation’s constant drive towards equality and acceptance for all. 

Again and again, Ellen DeGeneres has shown us that a single individual can make the world a more fun, more open, more loving place so long as we just keep swimming.”