OlderDustin Lance Black’s Oscar Acceptance Speech Gets Censored In Asian Broadcasts
Oscar-winning scribe, Milk writer Dustin Lance Black, enjoys a cup of coffee with a friend in West Hollywood on Wednesday (February 25).
The 34-year-old screenwriter accepted the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay on Sunday. His acceptance speech was censored in fifty different Asian nations by pan-Asian satellite TV network STAR, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
STAR spokeswoman Jannie Poon defended the network’s muting of the words “gay” and “lesbian” by saying STAR has “a responsibility to take the sensitivities and guidelines of all our markets into consideration.”
Here’s Dustin’s uncensored speech in its entirety: “This was 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. 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 one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married.
(Continue reading Dustin’s Oscar speech inside…)
“I wanna 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, 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.”
And here’s some additional backstage Q&A of Dustin from the Oscars:
Congratulations on your win. It was very touching, and I loved what you said. Do you think President Obama should reverse the stand on gay marriage? I think that there’s a few things that I would love him to do immediately, which is to repeal “don’t ask don’t tell,” and DMA, Defensive Marriage Act. But I do think that for inspiration for the gay community, we need to look not to Proposition 8, but dream bigger and look back to 1964 and the Civil Rights Act, because no group has ever won full civil rights in this country going state by state or county by county. I think it is time for the gay and lesbian community to have a federal civil rights act for full civil rights.
So you think it should be reversed? Absolutely. We are equal. Everyone.
You were talking about how you were inspired by Harvey Milk when you were a kid. What would have happened if, say, you were 13 and you saw someone like you at the Oscars, saying what you said? What do you think that would have done for you back then? I don’t know. I didn’t hear that at the Oscars when I was a 13 year old kid. You know, I just hope it makes you feel a bit less alone. It’s easy in San Francisco and L.A. and New York, Chicago, because you can find support, you can find mentors and heroes. But where I’m from, and a lot of places, you know in this country, in small town America, they just don’t know there are gay heroes, and they don’t know there’s other gay people, and they don’t know there’s a potential future, I mean a beautiful future. I mean, look at this; it’s insane for out gay people. I hope it inspires some folks.
Working on the screenplay that you did, have you ever have the dream of an Oscar moment or award moment? Did it fulfill the expectation that you felt? It’s all sort of an out of body thing. I mean, definitely, when we started this journey, I was, you know, just charging hotel stays and gasoline on my credit card and driving out to meet with Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg in San Francisco. There’s no studio, things like that. Your dream is don’t screw it up, first of all; and your second is, let’s get it to a great director. And I was fortunate and got it to Sean and it just kept being the next thing in front of you. And then all of a sudden, four weeks ago was a nomination, and it’s just sort of unbelievable. I don’t quite believe it yet. Maybe when I see my mom in a few minutes, I’ll believe it.
Did you know what you were going to say if and when you got up there? I had an idea. I mean, for me, the whole thing was always just sort of, you know, pay it forward. You know, Harvey gave me his story. And Harvey gave me his story and it saved my life. I just thought it’s time to pass it on. So the only thing I really knew I wanted to say is tell those kids out there they are going to be all right.
You’re making us all emotional. You’ve mentioned your mom a couple times. Was there something your mom said to you right before you came in came here tonight or were on the red carpet? Is there something you guys talked about that really struck a chord with you? You know, she always, you know, she just says, “I can’t believe we are here. Think of where we came from.” You know, we were, like, a broke family. It was just my single mom raising us for a very long time before my beautiful stepdad came around, and, you know, and it was just about survival for so long. So, I think for her, she’s completely overwhelmed and, you know, and she just does what she always does. I mean, this is a Mormon woman who should not be accepting or loving, and she just says I love you, and I want you to fall in love and be as happy as I am, so…
I wanted to know at what point did you think that this film could grab the attention of the Academy? I think that’s an easy one. I think it was the moment we first saw Sean with his hair cut with the suit on, and he came in, onto the set. And I was blown away at how much it reminded me of everything I’d heard and seen of Harvey. And I looked out to turn to Cleve and I went, “My God. That’s him, isn’t it?” And Cleve was outside like smoking manically going, “Oh, my God. I’ve seen a ghost.” But that was the thing. I thought this film would only succeed if we could somehow get close to that charisma, because that charisma of Harvey Milk is what transcended our community again and reached out to all these other people and will embrace the film. I think they have.
Share This Post:
66 Comments
The Best Speech of the night…i love it..
This whole thread is ridiculous. Calling people names isn’t going to change sides. Both sides are guilty of this. Both sides are guilty of pushing their agendas on other people and what their versions of happiness are. This cultural war is stupid. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions one way or another and can vote however they want to on issues. Stop fighting.
mute…is that really work??
stupid Asian Broadcasts!! stupid thought control!! stupid homosexuality hater!!
love&peace&equal~it’s simple! grow up!
Asugirl, being gay is natural and normal!! people are born that way. and just because the gays rights are being infracted on and nothings been done, doesnt mean nothing shouldnt be. it took hundreds of years for african americans to get rights, and just as long for women to be equal. ignorant people like you make me sick
Wow, censored in Asia? Pretty sure they have more homosexuals there than here…pfft.
oh my gosh !!! some of you on here are just so rude and close minded and arrogant !!
I just want to say first and foremost i am not a lesbian nor am i gay .. I am a Catholic and i love god with all my heart and i believe in him 100%.
that being said I think his speech was incredibly moving and amazing.. it literally put me to tears as i was watching it ..
it’s so sick to know that there are people in this world like some of you that have commented here saying how much you hate gay people or how it’s not a natural way to live or whatever that exist .. To Mia to Ava or to anyone that has dissed the gay communities .. Who are YOU to judge anyone ? if we’re going by religion here then you shouldn’t have the right.. at the end of the day the bible may say that a marriage is between a man and a woman and being gay is a sin but so is lying so is judging people and no sin is greater than the next in gods eyes..
I don’t get how some of you can be so judgmental and hateful and discriminative ..
If I were to ask those that have insulted the gays if they are racist most of them would say no .. but what is the difference between discriminating a black and discriminating a gay person ?
Most would say that being racist is wrong i would hope and most people know discrimination is wrong, but that’s what some of you are donig .. How can you say being racist is wrong yet still be able to discriminate against gays ? that’s just wrong and hypocritical ! Are we not all humans?? Isn’t america built on equality .. meaning EVERYONE .. black/white/gay/lesbian/asian .. freaking yellow or purple should have the same rights as everyone else ??
this is wrong on americas part
to discriminate again our own man kind ..
Being gay isn’t a choice it’s what you’re born with .. they can’t help who they are .. they can’t help who they love.. and certainly not church or no government should EVER have the right to tell a person who they can and can not marry or love ..
I can’t believe such hateful close minded people in this world are even living it’s a shame for this country ..
If you are gay or a lesbian GOD does love you like he said .. && He did die for you and everyone else ..
The first word that popped into my head was ‘unbelievable’ but sadly, it is not. This is truly sad that we are so ignorant that we refuse to accept that love between two human beings, no matter the gender, is still love and all should be treated equal. It’s quite ridiculous if you think about it actually, can you imagine if ’straight’ were to be censored? If straight people were prejudiced against? It’s laughable isn’t it? This breaks my heart and hopefully it breaks yours.
well said 56!
I’m proud that ASIAN countries still maintain VALUES.. It’s not equal rights, I believe it’s just insane to consider it okay! SICK!
IMO homosexuals = mental illness
Kudos to Dustin! He is not only yum-ness but immensely talented. He can write my story anytime…
xo
Rants, Thoughts & Merde
http://rantsthoughtsmerde.blogspot.com/2009/02/milks-scribe-wins-big.html
That was an amazing speech. I hope he continues on trying to change things for the gay community. They deserve it!
Her Name is a bad word..Jennie POON… lmao
He’s hot :)
But he’s gay so I can’t have him :(
It’s absolutely horrid that people in other parts of the world cannot accept gay or lesbian people. Love is love no matter who you are.<3
Sean Penn Jacket & Jeans Worn in MILK + Postcard, Props
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200321455075&ih=010&category=60345
Get Milk noticed even more by bidding on Sean Penn’s Wardrobe. Let’s let the world know just how important this film was!
Sean Penn Jacket & Jeans Worn in MILK + Postcard, Props
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200321455075&ih=010&category=60345
Below i have listed ALL of the animals IN NATURE who practice homosexuality, an argument against its “unnaturalness” and furthermore, what is really unnatural in this country is stupid redneck bumpkins who don’t know their facts. 1st, the bible was assembled 400-800 years after the death of christ, BY COMMITTEE as a resource to control chaos. It was just early politics, nothing more. thats probably a kick in the pants to you bible thumpers, but its true. Furthermore, if EVERYTHING in the bible is to be interpreted as FACT then anyone with zits better stay away from your churches alter or GOD will smite you, and don’t forget to stone your wife in the village square because she had an opinion.
Homo animals who couldnt care less about the bible. IF YOU EAT A GAY CHICKEN ARE YOU A HOMO??? FOOD for thought billy bob….
African Elephant
Brown Bear
* Brown Rat[18]
* Buffalo[19]
* Caribou[20]
* Cat (domestic)[21]
* Cheetah[22]
* Common Dolphin[23]
* Common Marmoset[24]
* Common Raccoon[25]
* Dog (domestic)[26]
* European Bison[27]
* Prea[28]
[edit] Birds
Main article: List of birds displaying homosexual behavior
[edit] Selected birds from the full list
* Chicken (Domestic)[29]
* Common Gull[30]
* Emu[31]
* King Penguin[32]
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) leaping for a fly fisherman’s bait. Research going back to the 1950s has shown both male and female Graylings exhibit homosexual behavior.[33]
* Amazon molly[34]
* Blackstripe topminnow[35]
* Bluegill Sunfish[36]
* Char[37]
* Grayling[33]
* European Bitterling[38]
* Green swordtail[39]
* Guiana leaffish[40]
* Houting Whitefish[41]
* Jewel Fish[42]
* Least Darter (Microperca punctulata)[43]
* Mouthbreeding Fish sp.[44]
* Salmon spp.[45]
* Southern platyfish[46]
* Ten-spined stickleback[47]
* Three-spined stickleback
* Anole sp.[48]
* Bearded Dragon[49]
* Broad-headed Skink[50]
* Checkered Whiptail Lizard[49]
* Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail Lizard[49]
* Common Ameiva[49]
* Common Garter Snake[51]
* Cuban Green Anole[48]
* Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard[49]
* Desert Tortoise[52]
* Fence Lizard[49]
* Five-lined Skink[50]
* Gopher (Pine) Snake[53]
* Green Anole[48]
* Inagua Curlytail Lizard[49]
* Jamaican Giant Anole[48]
* Laredo Striped Whiptail Lizard[49]
* Largehead Anole[48]
* Mourning Gecko[54]
* Plateau Striped Whiptail Lizard[49]
* Red Diamond Rattlesnake[55]
* Red-tailed Skink[50]
* Side-blotched Lizard[49]
* Speckled Rattlesnake[56]
* Water Moccasin[57]
* Western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)[58]
* Western Banded Gecko[54]
* Whiptail Lizard spp.[49]
* Wood Turtle[59]
* Appalachian Woodland Salamander[60]
* Black-spotted Frog[61]
* Mountain Dusky Salamander[60]
* Tengger Desert Toad[62]
* Acanthocephalan Worms[63]
* Alfalfa Weevil[64]
* Australian Parasitic Wasp sp.[65]
* Bean weevil sp.[66]
* Bedbug and other Bug spp.[67][68]
* Blister Beetle spp.[69]
* Blood-flukes (Schistosoma)[70]
* Blowfly[71]
* Box Crab[72]
* Broadwinged Damselfly sp.[73]
* Cabbage (Small) White (Butterfly)[74]
* Checkerspot Butterfly[74]
* Clubtail Dragonfly spp.[75]
* Cockroach spp.[76]
* Common Skimmer Dragonfly spp.[75]
* Creeping Water Bug sp.[77]
* Cutworm[78]
* Digger Bee[79]
* Dragonfly spp.[75]
* Eastern Giant Ichneumon (wasp)[65]
* Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer[80]
* Field Cricket sp.[81]
* Flour beetle[82]
* Fruit Fly spp.[83]
* Glasswing Butterfly[74]
* Grape Berry Moth[84]
* Grape Borer[80]
* Green Lacewing[85]
* Harvest Spider sp.[86]
* Hawaiian Orb-Weaver (spider)[86]
* Hen Flea[87]
* House Fly[88]
* Ichneumon wasp sp.[65]
* Incirrate Octopus spp.[72]
* Japanese Scarab Beetle[89]
* Jumping spider sp.[86]
* Larch Bud Moth[84]
* Large Milkweed Bug[90]
* Large White (Pieris brassicae)[91]
* Long-legged Fly spp.[92]
* Mazarine Blue[93]
* Mediterranean Fruit Fly[83]
* Mexican White[94]
* Midge
* Migratory locust[95]
* Mite sp.[92]
* Monarch Butterfly[74]
* Narrow-winged Damselfly spp.[73]
* Parsnip Leaf Miner[92]
* Pomace Fly[92]
* Queen Butterfly[74]
* Red Ant sp.[92]
* Red Flour Beetle[96]
* Reindeer Warble Fly[92]
* Rose Chafer[92]
* Rove Beetle spp.[97]
* Scarab Beetle (Melolonthine)[98]
* Screwworm Fly[92]
* Silkworm Moth[84]
* Sociable Weaver[92]
* Southeastern Blueberry Bee[79]
* Southern Green Stink Bug[99]
* Southern Masked Chafer[92]
* Southern One-Year Canegrub[92]
* Spreadwinged Damselfly spp.[73]
* Spruce Budworm Moth[84]
* Stable Fly sp.[92]
* Stag Beetle spp.[100]
* Tsetse Fly
* Water Boatman Bug
* Water Strider
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
Comment and Share!
E-mail to a Friend or share on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and more!