As I watched the Oscars last night I got a case of the shivers not once but twice.
Yes, part of it was because I was sitting with many people I have come to love in my life but I also found it special to share in Dustin Lance Black's winning moment.
I think many, if not all, GLBT people around the world shared many of the feeling expressed in Mr. Black's acceptance speech. Actually, I think, I mis-worded this last sentence; I don't think this speech can only be understood/appreciated by those of the GLBT community but by all minority groups.
"Oh my God. This was, um. This was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco, and our entire cast, my producers, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus, for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story. When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved 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 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. 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. Thank you, thank you, and thank you God for giving us Harvey Milk"
The second shiver was during the scenes shown for Best Actor. Seeing that gun go off behind Harvey Milk/Sean Penn's head still gets me and brings tears to my eyes.
I thought it was a great show, but really does Beyonce have to sing on every show on Earth. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but the over exposure is getting to me.
Comments