'Milk' Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black's Wonderful Oscar Speech

Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress at 5:05 AM on February 23, 2009.

At last night's Academy Awards, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black won the Oscar for Best Screenplay for "Milk," the story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. Black -- who was wearing a White Knot for marriage equality -- spoke about how Milk inspired him:

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 that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married. [...]

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 tonight who have been told 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 everyone 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.

Black's speech was greeted by loud applause.

Watch it:

Tagged as: san francisco, oscars, milk, harvey milk, dustin lance black, best screenplay

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.