Dustin Lance Black’s “8” books its 200th reading

Congratulations to Dustin Lance Black whose play 8 has just booked its 200th reading.

The Oscar winning screenwriter (Milk) offers the play to schools and non-profits without charging a royalty fee.

‘Yes, we needed to raise funds to keep the case against Prop 8 healthy, but outreach and education are two of the most critical components of any civil rights fight,’ Lance wrote on his blog this week.

This is the same play that was performed by star-studded casts in New York and Los Angeles to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

It is based on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

‘For the first time, opponents of marriage equality were made to step up to the witness stand and share their prejudices under penalty of perjury,’ he writes. ‘Under such scrutiny, their fake science and discriminatory opinions fell apart. It became clearer than ever that what our opponents fear most is the truth, so much so that they successfully fought to ban the video tapes of this historic trial. Knowing now that so many people have and will be able to hear the actual words from this case is a testament to the truth’s ability to always find the light.’