Last Tuesday, Ellen DeGeneres was supposed to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House ceremony. It seems unbelievable but she was denied entry into the White House because she had no identification.
Carrying an I.D. at all times is a habit everyone must learn. DeGeneres should have known better than to follow this advice. She had to wait hours before she was let in by presidential security.
Daily News reported that the LGBTQ community is proud to have another member of the group to receive the award. In the past, only three known members of this group have received the celebrated award namely, Alvin Ailey, Tennessee Williams and Harvey Milk.
Ellen DeGeneres was one of 20 chosen to receive the medal from President Barack Obama on that day. Other celebrities who were supposed to be given awards were Bruce Springsteen, Robert Redford, Diana Ross, Lorne Michaels and Robert De Niro.
The prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom Award was an addition to the cache of awards and citations that DeGeneres have accumulated all these years as a television host, comedian, actress, writer and producer in the entertainment world. President Barack Obama cited her philanthropic work as well as her professional work as a talk show host and film maker.
The Presidential Medal of Honor is the highest award for civilians in the United States. President Ronald Reagan started the tradition of awarding more civilian awards since there have been many citizens who have contributed much to nation building and served as examples for others to emulate.
As reported by Washington Post, President Obama holds the record as the president who has awarde the most number of medals at 114 including those that were given to DeGeneres last Tuesday. Nine of the twenty awardees are actors, musicians and artists which is almost one-half of the total awards given. This confirms that artists like Ellen DeGeneres are being recognized for their cultural contributions to the nation.
