LGBTQ news and entertainment
At a campaign event on Thursday, Donald Trump told the audience that a presidential civilian award is “much better” than the Congressional Medal of Honor (top military honor) whose recipients are “dead” or “in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets.” Continue reading “Trump: Civilian Presidential Honor Is “Much Better” Than Military Medal Given To Soldiers”
The Medal of Freedom is our country’s highest honor given to civilians.
Truly moving when you know that most presidents and vice-presidents don’t end their runs this close.
I really encourage to you watch the entire video. We don’t get to enjoy the upside of politics very often, it seems. And I find this truly uplifting to celebrate a long, outstanding life in service to our country.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 12, 2017
President Obama admits to getting “kind of choked up” as he presents Ellen DeGeneres with the USA’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“It’s easy to forget now just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages 20 years ago.”
Via press release from the White House:
Today, President Barack Obama named 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House on November 22th.
President Obama said, “The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor – it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better. From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way.”
Among the honorees are openly gay Ellen DeGeneres, and two of Donald Trump’s biggest critics – Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen.
Here’s the full list:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Elouise Cobell (posthumous)
Ellen DeGeneres
Robert De Niro
Richard Garwin
Bill and Melinda Gates
Frank Gehry
Margaret H. Hamilton
Tom Hanks
Grace Hopper (posthumous)
Michael Jordan
Maya Lin
Lorne Michaels
Newt Minow
Eduardo Padrón
Robert Redford
Diana Ross
Vin Scully
Bruce Springsteen
Cicely Tyson
This event will be streamed live at: www.whitehouse.gov/live.