"Attitudes shift and the laws followed, but it started with folks like you."

Future ex-President Barack Obama recently hung out with Queen of Daytime Ellen DeGeneres and they figuratively hugged it out over the progression of LGBT rights.

"I cannot thank you enough for what you've done for the gay community," Ellen said to the President in a Friday appearance on her show, but Barack had some kind words of his own.

"Changing hearts and minds I don't think anybody's been more influential than you on that. I really mean it," Obama said. "You being willing to claim who you were then suddenly empowers other people. Then suddenly it's your brother, it's your uncle, it's your best friend, it's your co-workers and then attitudes shift and the laws followed, but it started with folks like you. I'm so proud of you."

Though she was visibly touched by his words, Ellen joked, "I'm not really gay. I just thought it would work and I've had to stick with it because people responded well."

Check out Barack and Ellen taking pride in one another below: