Ellen DeGeneres Speaks Out Against Mississippi's Anti-LGBT Bill

Ellen DeGeneres took a moment to get serious about an important issue during Thursday's Ellen, addressing a religious freedom bill that discriminates against LGBT people signed by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Tuesday.

The bill, which goes into effect in July, allows businesses, individuals and religious organizations to deny LGBT people marriage, adoption and foster care services, fire or refuse to employ them, and decline to rent or sell them property if it offends their religious beliefs.

"That is the definition of discrimination," DeGeneres said. "It is also something that the Supreme Court already ruled on when they made marriage a right for everyone." She called on the people of Mississippi to not use the bill to discriminate.

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"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," DeGeneres said. "I was fired for being gay, 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 profit."

Similar discriminatory bills in North Carolina and Georgia have resulted in condemnation from celebrities and threats from studios to withdraw production from those states if the bills go into effect. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vowed to veto his state's bill in response.

Watch Ellen's plea for less hate and more love: