30 Years on ... from 'The Times of Harvey Milk' to Dustin Lance Black

2009 Oscars Acceptance Speech: Dustin Lance Black, Best Screenplay, Milk:




DUSTIN LANCE BLACK:

When I was 13 years old my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope that one day I could live my life openly as who I am and maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married.

I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to.

But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there who have been told that they are "less than" by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures that have value. And that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you. And that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you God for giving us Harvey Milk.

And here's Sean Penn accepting his Oscar for Best Actor, Milk:



SEAN PENN:

For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, and, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.

More at:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/22/milk-oscar/

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9591

http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2009/02/video-yay.html

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-oscar-winners.html

And be sure to read Lance's essay: 30 Years Later.

And just in case that YouTube of Lance's acceptance speech gets yanked, here it is again: