Dustin Lance Black on former Academy Awards producer Brett Ratner: “I absolutely forgave him.”

Dustin Lance Black, who won the Oscar for his Milk screenplay, could score another nomination for J. Edgar.

He was among the screenwriters and potential award nominees who participated in a roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter. It’s an interesting conversation that also includes Pedro Almodovar, 62 (The Skin I Live In), Oren Moverman, 45 (Rampart), Eric Roth, 66 (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close), Aaron Sorkin, 50 (Moneyball) and Steven Zaillian, 58 (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Moneyball).

Black was asked if he was offended by then-Oscars producer Brett Ratner’s remark that “rehearsal’s for fags.” (He resigned days after the remark became public).

Black, who is also a well-known LGBT equality activist, said: “Absolutely. Of course. I think a lot of people were, not just gay people. But I also read the letter he put out [to apologize] and I found it incredibly moving. So, I’ll go on record: I absolutely forgave him. I hope he does the things he said he’s doing in that letter. Those are learning experiences. We all mess up. It’s what you do on the other side that counts.”