A Very Gay Oscars (for lack of better terms)

For the LGBT community, the Oscars last night were a very moving, positive experience, as they watched the crowning moments of Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn, who received wards for their work in Milk. Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay was a poignant and powerful one: "I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am, even when there was pressure not to," he said, nearly in tears," 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 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." Sean Penn, too, delivered a meaningful speech, alluding to the Proposition 8 ballot and the Westboro Baptist Church who had picketed outside the awards, "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." It was a victorious moment for the community to hear them spoken about in such favor by these influential people, in such a far-reaching mainstream fashion. The emotional responses of Dustin Lance Black's and Sean Penn's colleagues by way of applause and close-ups on their impassioned faces were a great sight to behold as well, to see that so many prominent figures in our culture were so supportive. In that same audience was gay rights activists Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg, who were portrayed in the film Milk. The two of them donned White Knots on their outfits, the symbol of Marriage Equality. Most of the cast of Milk wore them and even ANne Hathaway's father had one on his tuxedo. At the Spirits Awards, there were even more celebrities who sported these ribbons on them. Hollywood is one of the driving forces behind the movement for marriage equality, for reasons like Milk, the White Knots, and earlier moments like Brad Pitt (who inevitably attended the Oscars) who donated $100,000 in September of 2008 against the passing of the ban.

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My Conclusions:

• Anne Hathaway was in the movie Brokeback Mountain, the acclaimed gay film that Heath Ledger starred in. Last night, Heath won the Oscar posthumously for his Joker.
• I want a White Knot.
• This is the first time that I actually watched the Oscars all the way through.
• Also, Penelope Cruz won an Oscar for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, in which she plays a bisexual painter.