Ellen DeGeneres Gives Gay Boy Scout Denied Award $20K For College

Ellen DeGeneres has given gay Boy Scout Ryan Andresen a $20,000 college scholarship.

Appearing on DeGeneres' daytime talk show, Andresen, who lives near San Francisco, explained that he was denied an Eagle Scout award by his troop leader after he completed the work needed to earn it because he's gay.

Becoming an Eagle Scout has been “a lifelong dream for me,” Andresen told DeGeneres.

For his leadership service project, Andresen created a tolerance wall at his middle school.

“I've been through a lot of bullying in my life,” he said. “So, I went to my middle school and I created a wall of 288 tiles and I told all of the students that we're making a wall to combat bullying and show that we love everyone.”

Andresen's mother, Karen Andresen, launched a petition asking the Scouts to give her son the pin he earned.

The group A Good Turn also has rallied to Andresen's side, organizing a pin drive for the teen.

One-hundred and seventy people so far have pledged to send Andresen their Eagle Scout pins, Andresen said.

In presenting Andresen his giant $20,000 check, DeGeneres said: “I'm proud of you. I'm really proud of you.”

The Boy Scouts of America reiterated its ban on openly gay scouts and leaders in July.