Dustin Lance Black Wins an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "Milk"

Dustin Lance Black won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Milk on the 81st Annual Academy Awards presented on February 22.

Comments

[GraphicJack]

I am very proud of Dustin for his remarkable achievement and his eloquence and humanity during his acceptance speech... made me cry watching it even the second time around!

[Tom L]

What a great moment it was. It was a well written and delivered speech and gave the most important message of all - hope to every 13 year old across American that maybe after all they are important and valuable. There is no better forum for reaching these young people in living rooms across the country than the Oscars. Good job.

It reminded me to look up Tom Hanks' acceptance speech from Philidelphia 14 years ago. It is worth another look as it comes from a time and gives a message that wasn't being heard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBuDMEpUc8k

[FunMe]

The great part of the speech is that it was said by a GAY person.

It's great to have straight allies, but when you have a gay person say it will be OK in the very near future for ALL gay Americans, it is a powerful statement.

I cried and emailed his speech to all my friends as soon as I came back from my Oscar viewing party in West Hollywood.

[Mike]

This was a shameless bit of pandering to a friendly audience. Mr. Black, you won an award for a fictional film about a real person. Harvey Milk was no saint and really had little influence outside of a few SF neighborhoods when he was tragically murdered.

Mr. Black, in every interview, talks about himself as if he had achieved something special. He lied to America's youth that they would have federally protected rights. They will not. Already 31 states voted to deny marriage rights...both liberal states and conservative seats. Run for office Mr. Black if you feel strongly about this issue.

Mr. Black also mentioned that God loved gay men. Of course...has anyone ever denied that? Mr. Black, however, has said he does not believe in God. So, it seems this 'writer' wrote himself a nice dramatic speech with little conviction except to make himself appear 'admirable'.

And finally, there is the epic hypocrisy of Sean Penn who pals around with Venezualan dictator Hugo Chavez who arrests gay men and many are mutilated. And yet, there is Mr. Penn castigating those who disagree with him about gay rights.

We would be fools to listen to the likes of Penn & Black. Their speeches were predictable jokes.

[farmboyWI]

Wise beyone his years for including that one word "federally" in his speech.

[Dirk De Bruyne]

To Mike : yes, of course , many many people have said that God doesn't love gays...personally that doesn't concern me because I am an atheist, but it does harm gay boys who are entrenched in the bible belt, as for your other comments they are as disengenious as they are false, of course the oscars is a self-congretulatory orgy of cliché's, but they ARE getting better, ...you thi nk these guys went for a quick buck making a film about this subject ? LOL...what world are u living in ? as for Milk's influence, well, the symbolism is felt now all over the world,and that is MORE than enough for any man to leave as his legacy..and thank GOODNESS he was no saint, what the gay community needs is a few more honest sinners and a few less hypocritical saints !!

[corrective_unconscious]

>He lied to America's youth that they would have federally protected rights.

Marriage equality will take more time than the other things we'll get, including ENDA, Hate Crimes protections and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell Don't Pursue, but it's always heartening to hear the negativity from the Log Uncle Tom Cabin Republikkkan types since they're always wrong everything. I mean, gay Republikkkan politicians can't even tell which one is the undercover, male cop in a cruisy public park before offering the $20 to blow 'em, for christ's sake. Not to mention in the Minneapolis airport mensroom. God love those closeted, quisling queers!

[corrective_unconscious]

"...Since they're always wrong about everything...."