Ellen Presents Gay Teen with Scholarship

Ellen DeGeneres welcomed a Mississippi high school senior to her television show, and presented her with a $30,000 scholarship from tonic.com. The student, Constance McMillen, is gay, and had planned on taking her girlfriend to her school’s prom, and bend gender roles by wearing a tuxedo to the event. Rather than let this happen, the school canceled the prom, a move McMillen and Mississippi’s chapter of the ACLU are contesting.

DeGeneres spoke highly of the teen. From USA Today:
"I admire you so much," she told the 18-year-old senior from Itawamba Agricultural High School. "When I was your age I never would have had the strength to do what you are doing."

The ACLU argues that the school is violating her first amendment rights, which among other things, guarantees people the freedom to express political opinions. DeGeneres offered to pay to put on a prom for the school, but McMillen said she wants the school to host the prom.