The touching moment that Obama made Ellen cry

TV star and proud LGBT woman Ellen DeGeneres looked emotional as she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom today.

The award was presented at the White House in a special ceremony held by President Obama.

Obama delivered an emotional speech, paying tribute to Ellen's character:

The President said that Ellen “reminds us that we have more in common than we realise”.

"It’s easy to forget now, when we’ve come so far, where now marriage 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.

“Just how important it was, not just to 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 neighbor, or our colleague, or our sister, challenge our own assumptions."

The award is “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 endeavours.”

Among the 21 recipients this year are Robert De Niro, Bill and Melinda Gates, Tom Hanks, Diana Ross, Vin Scully and Bruce Springsteen.