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Ellen DeGeneres receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

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(President Barack Obama presented Ellen DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Screenshot via ABC News._

(President Barack Obama presented Ellen DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Screenshot via ABC News.)

Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor and awarded to 21 of the U.S.’s top activists, artists and athletes. In a press release Obama says these honorees, “helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way.”

Obama noted how courageous it was for DeGeneres to come out 20 years ago and reminded everyone that the comedian did face backlash for her decision resulting in the cancellation of her sitcom “Ellen.”

“And she did pay a price. We don’t remember this, I hadn’t remembered it. She did, for a pretty long stretch of time even in Hollywood,” Obama says.

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

Before DeGeneres was presented with the medal the announcer said of the comedian,”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.”

DeGeneres visibly teared up as Obama places the medal around her neck.

While the day culminated in happy tears, DeGeneres almost wasn’t present to receive the medal. Earlier in the day, DeGeneres tweeted from Lafayette Square, “They haven’t let me into the White House yet because I forgot my ID. Not joking.”

Eventually, she was able to enter the White House tweeting a video of a mannequin challenge, which included fellow honoree Diana Ross, captioned “I’m in.”

Other honorees include Bruce Springsteen,Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, among others.

Watch DeGeneres accept the honor below.

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PHOTOS: Black Pride Opening Reception

Special guests include Ts Madison, Kerri Colby

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Ts Madison entertains at the Black Pride Opening Ceremony on Friday, May 23 at the Capital Hilton. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Opening Reception for the 34th annual D.C. Black Pride was held at the Capital Hilton on Friday, May 23. Presenters, speakers and entertainers included Ts Madison, Monroe Alise, Billy the Goat, Kerri Colby, Apple Brown Betty, Heather Mahogani, Lyrical Mar, Lolita Leopard, Ink, and Bang Garçon. Anthony Oakes was the host.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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PHOTOS: Silver Pride

Rayceen Pendarvis serves as emcee

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Rayceen Pendarvis was the emcee of Silver Pride 2025. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 2025 Silver Pride Resource Fair and Tea Dance was held at the Eaton Hotel on Wednesday, May 21.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Queer film festival comes to D.C.

DC/DOX to showcase LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers

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DC/DOX film festival will take place in D.C. on June 12.

DC/DOX will host a film festival beginning on Thursday, June 12, at the Regal Gallery Place, Eaton Cinema, and the U.S. Navy Memorial Burke Theatre. 

This festival will premier LGBTQ documentaries made by LGBTQ filmmakers. Each screening will be followed by in-person Q&As with the filmmakers. 

For more details, visit dcdoxfest.com

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