Countdown to Oscars: Relive when Dustin Lance Black won the Academy Award for his “Milk” screenplay

One of my all-time favorite moments from Oscar history came in 2009 when Dustin Lance Black won the Academy Award for his screenplay for best picture nominee Milk.

It was a wonderful win that became a powerful moments because Lance, not yet the well-known activist that he has since become, seized the moment to say some really meaningful things.

‘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 to one day live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married.’

(He choked up, audience began to applaud.)

‘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’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. (Wild applause from the audience.) Thank you, thank you, and thank you God for giving us Harvey Milk.’

BONUS VIDEO: Sean Penn wins the best actor Oscar later in the same telecast for his performance as Harvey Milk. Below is the presentation and his speech: