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Loading ...Gay night at the Oscars includes victorious ‘Milk’
Gus Van Sant’s Milk may not have won Best Picture, but last night’s 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony included plenty of gay-related moments, the most satisfying of which may have been Sean Penn’s win for Best Actor for his acclaimed portrayal of slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
“You commie, homo-loving sons of guns!” Penn said in accepting the award.Later, he referred to anti-gay protesters who had been picketing the streets of Sunset and Highland outside the theater, saying “For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, 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!”
Sean Penn
(Getty Images/Kevin Winter)
Earlier in the evening, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black had given another moving speech when he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the same film.
“I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am,” Black said, “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 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.”
Dustin Lance Black
(Getty Images/Kevin Winter)
The videos for both Penn and Black’s acceptance speeches appear at the end of this article on the next page.
There were few, if any, surprises in the evening. As expected, Slumdog Millionaire dominated, winning eight Oscars.
Host Hugh Jackman presided over a stream-lined, slimmed-down ceremony, supposedly due to the tough economic times. The opening musical number, with sets that Jackman humorously claimed to have constructed in his garage after producers had nixed anything more expensive, was shaky – though Anne Hathaway was delightful in her “impromptu” musical impersonation of Richard Nixon.
In later explaining to Frank Langella, who portrays Richard Nixon in the film Frost/Nixon, why he had chosen Hathaway, not Langella, for the number, Jack admitted, “I didn’t want to kiss you.”
A later musical number, an homage to movie musicals where Jackman partnered with Beyonce Knowles and the actors from both Mamma Mia! and High School Musical, was far more successful, perhaps because the Mamma Mia! cast members did not include Pierce Brosnan.
Jackman finished the number by announcing, “The musical is back!”
Jackman and cast bringing back song and dance
(Getty Images/Kevin Winter)
This year, the Oscars were presented – very roughly – in the order in which a movie is made: from screenwriting to editing and scoring. The Best Original Songs – only three this year – were condensed into a single medley, a fact that contributed greatly to the ceremony’s reasonable running time.
Thank Goodness for Sean Penn’s win for the film Milk. It set the stage for his moving speech regarding the need for equal rights and full inclusion for GLBT individuals everywhere. Sean Penn’s speech was received by millions of viewers all over the world and probably did more for gay rights than any other forum I can think of. Bravo Sean Penn.
Both speechs based from the movie MILK influnced me. I’m a part the GLBT community, being an 18 year old lesbian. It ment alot to me to have watched that, and i’d have to agree with the words that were said by Sean Penn and Dustin Black. Though I never saw the moive, I know of the story of Harvey Milk, and it’s sad ending I couldn’t bare to have watched it.
Thanks you Sean and Dustin
I was crying like a baby at both speeches. Thanks to you both!!!
Okay, it’s official, I love Sean Penn more than I love Madonna.
“For those who saw the signs of hatred…” I know he’s referring to protesters but what exactly was it all about? Where’s the footage?
I was so EXTREMLY happy with both of them! When Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn gave their speech I started jumping up and down. Ever since last night I have had a huge smile on my face. This shows how our world can change, for the better. Hopefully this had a great influence on everyone around the world.
Next time some of us decide to condemn all heteros as our enemies, you should watch Penn’s acceptance speech. With his few words he has probably done more good for our community than most GLBT organizations have done in the last year. Bravo!
Oh Tiger, please. Let’s not dismiss the hard grunt work done by a number of gay groups, from Lambda Legal to PFLAG, because Penn had some nice words.
Sincerely,
James
Tiger did not dismiss work by gay groups. He made very relevant comments that there are many str8 people that support equality and dignity for all people.
James Withers Said: “Oh Tiger, please. Let’s not dismiss the hard grunt work done by a number of gay groups, from Lambda Legal to PFLAG, because Penn had some nice words.”
James, the key word was “most” GLBT organizations, not all. I will be first to give Lamda their props as they have gone abover and beyond and they are an organization of which the SCC Community can be proud. Likewise for PFLAG and the Matthew Shepard Organization. The ones to whom I was referring are the ones that call you several times a year asking for donation and give little in return except to hobnob and brunch with our enemies under the guise of promoting understanding. All they have really done is taken ass-kissing to an exquisite, tho not always admirable, artform. You KNOW the groups I am talking about. That aside, Trace is correct. My point here was not to bash some of our more unproductive GLBT advocates, but rather to point out that not all heteros are our enemy. I just happened to be lucky enough to accomplish both at once
Have a great day.
I cried in both speeches. Dustin Lance Black’s words touched my heart. Sean Penn’s speech also gave me hope. This is a day for all to celebrate.
Brent. Pretty good commentary. You hit most of the good highlights of the show. I might have some slight disagreements about a couple of your picks and pans choices. For example, I thought that the first musical number was much superior to the 2nd, which I found stupid and insipid. Also, one of the major reasons I tune into the Oscars is to hear the actual songs and scores being performed, not some stupid mashed up melody. That part was awful!
What’s wrong with civil unions with full rights? Why are we caught up in the name marriage that is defined in the dictionary as a union btwn man/woman?
angelo22 asks:”What’s wrong with civil unions with full rights? Why are we caught up in the name marriage that is defined in the dictionary as a union btwn man/woman?”
This was tried in NJ and they found that many business and organizations continue to discriminate against couples by not giving the same benefits to civil unions as they do to marriages. NJ is now likely going to change to marriage rather than civil unions.
RE: Dictionary definition; Definitions change as new occasions teach new meanings. The language is not static; any language which does not change is ‘dead.’ Don’t be limited by archaic definitions as their accuracy is easily eroded by time and usage. The definition of marriage will soon change too as it has over the centuries. It once meant a social and economic contract to exchange chattel. The current definition is only a couple of centuries old and will gradually pass away too.
Do not be fooled by the so-called-christian’s claims that marriage as we now know it was instituted in holy scripture — it’s simply not true. Do the research. It’s a convenient lie.