Ellen DeGeneres Speaks Out Against Mississippi’s Anti-LGBT Law During Powerful Monologue

Ellen DeGeneres put the comedy aside for a minute during her show on Wednesday to speak out about Mississippi’s anti-LGBT law.

The bill in question is Mississippi’s Religious Liberty bill, which allows people who have religious objections to refuse LGBT people of marriage, foster care service, and adoption. The bill also gives them the right to fire or refuse to employ them and stop them from renting or selling property. State Governor Phil Bryant signed the bill into law last Tuesday.

DeGeneres used the time in her monologue to creatively talk about this issue, sharing she is not a “political person” but this is basic “human rights.”

“I’m not a political person, I’m really not, but this is not politics, this is human rights,” she said during her monologue. “And when I see something wrong I have to talk about it. It’s the same thing I do when I see men wearing spandex in line at Starbucks.”

DeGeneres also pointed out that the Supreme Court approved legal marriage for everyone last summer, however Mississippi “doesn’t second that emotion.”

“It’s also something that the Supreme Court already ruled on when they made marriage a right for everyone, everyone,” DeGeneres explained. “And they’re Supreme. I mean, that’s the best you can get. Like the Nacho Supreme from Taco Bell.”

DeGeneres made sure to keep light of the situation, keeping it powerful but funny. The comedian reminisced on her childhood, pointing out that she grew up in the south, showing support for others and telling them not to lose hope.

“If you’re in Mississippi or North Carolina or anywhere and you’re saddened by the fact that people are judging you based on who you love, don’t lose hope,” she shared. “I was fired for being gay, and I know what it feels like. I lost everything. But look at me now. I could buy that governor’s mansion, flip it, and make a $7 million dollar profit.”

Check out the powerful monologue below.