Photos: Presidential Medal Of Freedom Awarded To Sally Ride, Bayard Rustin, Bill Clinton

President Barack Obama this afternoon honored sixteen American legends with the highest award that can be given to a civilian: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the recipients were the late astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, the late civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, the late Senator Daniel Inouye, and former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Gloria Steinem.

Tam O’Shaughnessy (image, top), Dr. Sally Ride’s partner of 27 years, told HRC yesterday that the “award sends a message to the world, including to Russia, that equality is important, respect is important.”

“The ideal America is one where no one – regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, — is a second class citizen,” said Tam. “With each protection and freedom and equality achieved, I feel safer in my state and prouder to be an American.”

“I wanted to ensure Sally’s legacy reflected the integrity in which she lived her life, said Tam. “For her not to be open in this one way felt wrong.”

“It’s scary to be open because you don’t realized the impact that it might have on so many aspects of your life,” said Tam. “You worry about grants, about whether you’ll be able to continue writing children’s textbooks; we were scared that if sponsors knew the founders of Sally Ride Science were two lesbians, if that would affect our organization.”

“I’ve found that people really valued the relationship,” said Tam. “It didn’t matter that we were two women; what mattered was our relationship’s longevity and our love.”

President Obama at today’s event offered these words:

“Tam O’Shaughnessy accepting on behalf of her life partner, Dr. Sally K. Ride. Thirty years ago, Dr. Sally K. Ride soared into space as the youngest American and first woman to wear the Stars and Stripes above Earth’s atmosphere. As an astronaut, she sought to keep America at the forefront of space exploration. As a role model, she fought tirelessly to inspire young people — especially girls — to become scientifically literate and to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. At the end of her life, she became an inspiration for those battling pancreatic cancer, and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The tale of a quiet hero, Sally Ride’s story demonstrates that the sky is no limit for those who dream of reaching for the stars.

“Walter Naegle accepting on behalf of his partner, Bayard Rustin. Bayard Rustin was a giant in the American Civil Rights Movement. Openly gay at a time when many had to hide who they loved, his unwavering belief that we are all equal members of a ‘single human family’ took him from his first Freedom Ride to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights movement. Thanks to his unparalleled skills as an organizer, progress that once seemed impossible appears, in retrospect, to have been inevitable. Fifty years after the March on Washington he organized, America honors Bayard Rustin as one of its greatest architects for social change and a fearless advocate for its most vulnerable citizens.”

Here are some photos and videos of today’s historic event:

Image, top, by Shelly Leslie, via Twitter