Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom"
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* [[Rachel Carson]], environmentalist | * [[Rachel Carson]], environmentalist | ||
* [[Aaron Copland]], composer | * [[Aaron Copland]], composer | ||
| + | * [[Ellen DeGeneres]], comedian/entertainer | ||
* [[Vladimir Horowitz]], pianist | * [[Vladimir Horowitz]], pianist | ||
| − | |||
* [[Jasper Johns]], painter | * [[Jasper Johns]], painter | ||
* [[Barbara Jordan]], politics | * [[Barbara Jordan]], politics | ||
| + | * [[Billie Jean King]], sports | ||
* [[Lincoln Kirstein]], ballet and writer | * [[Lincoln Kirstein]], ballet and writer | ||
| − | * [[Margaret | + | * [[Margaret Mead]], anthropologist |
* [[Harvey Milk]], politics | * [[Harvey Milk]], politics | ||
* [[Antonia Pantoja]], activist | * [[Antonia Pantoja]], activist | ||
| + | * [[Megan Rapinoe]], football/soccer player | ||
* [[Sally Ride]], scientist | * [[Sally Ride]], scientist | ||
| + | * [[Fred Rogers]], children's television show host | ||
* [[Bayard Rustin]], activist | * [[Bayard Rustin]], activist | ||
* [[Stephen Sondheim]], composer | * [[Stephen Sondheim]], composer | ||
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* [[Tennessee Williams]], playwright | * [[Tennessee Williams]], playwright | ||
| − | == | + | ==See Also== |
| + | * [[Order of Canada]] | ||
| + | * [[Order of Australia]] | ||
| + | * [[New Zealand Order of Merit]] | ||
| + | * [[LGBTQ Recipients of the Order of Merit]] | ||
| + | * [[LGBTQ Individuals Who Have Received France's Highest Honours]] | ||
| + | * [[LGBTQ Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Further Reading/Research== | ||
| + | * https://www.whitehouse.gov/campaign/medal-of-freedom | ||
| + | * http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/28/us/politics/presidential-medal-of-freedom-says-something-about-presenter-too.html?_r=0 | ||
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Latest revision as of 00:43, 9 July 2022
In the United States, the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed by the President as the highest civilian honour in the country. Formally established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy as a revision to an award previously given for wartime service, it is now presented annually to a select group of individuals who have made historic and notable contributions to their professions, their country, their culture, and the world at large. As of December 2015, there have been 577 recipients of the award.
We have identified 17 LGBTQ individuals throughout history who have received the award. As is to be expected, all are household names in the United States and many are also well known around the world. In general, the majority of these individuals emanate from the entertainment, arts, and political activist professions, with several from the scientific community. It is noteworthy that their publicly-known sexual orientation did not preclude them from this esteemed award.
No doubt, the presentation of such awards often reflect the biases and politics of the presenter themselves - ie. the President. Nevertheless, the awarding of this group of individuals does present a recognition of particular achievement and public acceptance. All of these individuals can be considered icons of the LGBTQ community, and indeed there are many allies of the community who have also been presented with the award.
Simply click on their names to access each individuals' fascinating biography:
- Alvin Ailey, dance
- Rachel Carson, environmentalist
- Aaron Copland, composer
- Ellen DeGeneres, comedian/entertainer
- Vladimir Horowitz, pianist
- Jasper Johns, painter
- Barbara Jordan, politics
- Billie Jean King, sports
- Lincoln Kirstein, ballet and writer
- Margaret Mead, anthropologist
- Harvey Milk, politics
- Antonia Pantoja, activist
- Megan Rapinoe, football/soccer player
- Sally Ride, scientist
- Fred Rogers, children's television show host
- Bayard Rustin, activist
- Stephen Sondheim, composer
- Harvey Van Cliburn, pianist
- Thornton Wilder, writer
- Tennessee Williams, playwright
See Also
- Order of Canada
- Order of Australia
- New Zealand Order of Merit
- LGBTQ Recipients of the Order of Merit
- LGBTQ Individuals Who Have Received France's Highest Honours
- LGBTQ Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau
