Billie Jean King and the late Harvey Milk receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at White House ceremony

This kind of gives me chills.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our nation’s highest honor for a civilian and I cannot think of two more deserving people than the late Harvey Milk and the visionary Billie Jean King –  two people in the LGBT community have had such an impact  on the culture.

They are both fighters, both completely dedicated to achieving what is fair and what is equal and both have helped to change the world.

“This is a chance for me and for the United States of America to say thank you to some of the finest citizens of this country and of all countries,” President Barack Obama told the audience assembled for the ceremony at the White House.

And here is some of what Obama had to say about these two amazing people at The White House ceremony where 16 people were honored in all.

“Harvey Bernard Milk dedicated his life to shattering boundaries and challenging assumptions. As one of the first openly gay elected officials in this country, he changed the landscape of opportunity for the nation’s gay community. Throughout his life, he fought discrimination with visionary courage and conviction. Before his tragic death in 1978, he wisely noted, “Hope will never be silent,” and called upon Americans to stay true to the guiding principles of equality and justice for all. Harvey Milk’s voice will forever echo in the hearts of all those who carry forward his timeless message.”

“Through her example and advocacy, Billie Jean Moffitt King has advanced the struggle for greater gender equality around the world. In an age of male-dominated sports, her pioneering journey took her from Long Beach, Calif., to the lawns of the All England Club and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Her athletic acumen is matched only by her unwavering defense of equal rights. With Billie Jean King pushing us, the road ahead will be smoother for women, the future will be brighter for LGBT Americans, and our nation’s commitment to equality will be stronger for all.”

In addition to Billie Jean and Milk, others honored with medals included Sen. Ted Kennedy who was too ill to attend, Broadway legend Chita Rivera. screen legend Sidney Poitier, and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

President Obama said of the honorees:

“At a moment when cynicism and doubt too often prevail, when our obligations to one another are too often forgotten, when the road ahead can seem too long or hard to tread, these extraordinary men and women, these agents of change, remind us that excellence is not beyond our abilities, that hope lies around the corner and that justice can still be won in the forgotten corners of this world.

“They remind us that we each have it within our powers to fulfill dreams, to advance the dreams of others and to remake the world for our children,” he said.