DeGeneres gift to prom flap lesbian

A lesbian high school student embroiled in a legal flap over her high school's prom policy has received a 30,000 dollar scholarship on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Constance McMillen was speechless when the talk show host, who is a lesbian, pulled out an oversized cheque from the website Tonic.Com, a digital media company.

DeGeneres says she admires McMillen for challenging Itawamba County School District rules which would prevent her from escorting her girlfriend to the prom. The school district in the Mississippi county cancelled the prom, scheduled for April 2, after McMillen's request.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday in a court in Aberdeen on American Civil Liberties Union efforts to force the district to hold the prom.