When Dustin Lance Black won the Original Screenplay Oscar for Milk on Sunday night, he honored what he called the "life-saving" story of Harvey Milk and pledged like a politician that gay marriage was just around the corner:
When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and father move 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 hope to live my life. It gave he hope that one day I could live openly as who I am, and maybe even that I would fall in love and one day get married. (Applause)
I wanna 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’s want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have have told they are "less than" by their churches, 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 I promise you, very soon you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours. (Applause)
Thank you, and thank you, God, for Harvey Milk.
