Blogging and The Big O

For those of you still debating the power of self-publishing and blogging, do I have a story for you! This Monday, I blogged about Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black and his acceptance speech that won the hearts of millions. In it, I personally expressed my appreciation to Black for using his hard-earned, well-deserved moment of honor and fame to unselfishly deliver a message of beauty and love to gay and lesbian youth, and those of us “newbies” who have only recently come out to friends and family.

On Wednesday afternoon, a producer from the Oprah Winfrey Show contacted me and asked me to attend today’s live show in Chicago where Black would be Skyped in to talk with Oprah and gal pal Gayle King. After reading my post, Oprah’s production team wanted me to speak with Black about his speech and its personal meaning for me, as a rather young gay man who is continuing to reconcile his religious upbringing, personal faith and emotional attractions for others.

Today – after an urgent trip down Michigan Avenue and to my favorite salon and spa – I arrived at the Harpo Studios in the West Loop of Chicago. While nowhere near the exhilarating experience Black surely felt when winning an Oscar, I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime. After being escorted past a line of anxious ticketholders, I was shuttled backstage to meet the production team. I ultimately found out that because of additional programming, there would not be enough time for me to speak directly with Black.

Even though I didn’t personally address Black, the entire experience was surreal. In a short hour of my life, I was in the intimate presence of Steve Harvey, Jennifer Hudson (who beautifully performed If This Isn’t Love), Gayle and the Queen herself. Black was again the highlight of my time at Harpo, his powerful words again resonating with me and my fellow audience members.

He thanked Oprah for her words at a party a few days before the Oscars that alleviated his nerves about the possibility of giving a speech in front of his peers and millions around the world. When asked whether he had prepared his speech, Black responded that he had a general idea, but that his purpose was to again deliver Milk’s message of love to gay and lesbian people, especially young people. He reminded the audience to pay it forward, citing the fact that even today one out of three LGBT youth attempts suicide. Before signing off, they asked Black if his Oscar was close by. And flashing that award-winning smile, he simply pushed it in front of the camera.

I’m still trying to fully grasp the many joys and learnings from the past 72 hours of excitement, but one thing is crystal clear: Our words, even in this day of innovative science and technology, have the greatest power to create change, to instill hope and to improve the life of another person or an entire culture. And thankfully, we live in a country that upholds freedom of speech and expression as one of its most basic tenets.

Harvey Milk’s words influenced the wonderfully talented Black, who in turn has greatly impacted my own life. Whose lives are your words affecting – and is it for the better?

Share | February 27th, 2009 5 Comments »
Tags: Entertainment · Media