Dustin Lance Black

The highlight of the 81st annual Academy Awards for me was when Dustin Lance Black won an Oscar for best original screenplay for "Milk." His acceptance speech was particularly touching:

"I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life openly as who I am, and that one day I could even fall in love and 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 would want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of 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 and thank you God for giving us Harvey Milk."

This was by far the best acceptance speech of the evening.

I am grateful for Dustin Lance Black, and am glad that the Academy recognized the excellent work he did in writing the screenplay for "Milk." Dustin is now one of my personal heroes.

One of the reasons why "Milk" is such an important film is because it's so much more than a biopic of Harvey Milk. The picture is relevant for us today because we need more people like Harvey Milk, especially in light of the passage of Proposition 8 in California this past November. Harvey Milk's story, eloquently told by Dustin Lance Black in the film, should motivate us to continue Milk's fight for full and equal civil rights for gay and lesbian citizens.

Congratulations, Dustin Lance Black!