I’m not a movie-goer. In fact, unless the film includes singing and dancing, Quidditch or four girlfriends in couture, my general proclivity is for other forms of arts and entertainment on the weekends.
That said, every February without fail, I set myself in front of the television to watch the glamour and glory that is the Oscars. It’s a captivating affair, from the style to the speeches. Penelope Cruz said it best last night in her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress. “…This night is a moment of unity for the world because art in any form is and has been and will always be our universal language.”
And last night as the unified world watched films’ greatest artists, Dustin Lance Black, winner of Best Original Screenplay for Milk, gave a thoughtful acceptance speech that embodied the hope and message his award-winning film shared with audiences around the country.
When Black heard the story of late LGBT advocate and public leader Harvey Milk, he said it gave him hope, hope to live his life as who he was. His story was a message of love and self-acceptance, as he urged gay and lesbian youth to realize they are “..beautiful, wonderful creatures of value.”
I’ll never forget his speech, which you can watch below in its entirety, for its genuine sharing of his journey to love himself and its striking similarities to my own.
I immediately thought of our conversations here on the Out Front blog, too. We daily discuss LGBT communications, what to do and not to do, and the people and companies that get it right or are way off course. We provide advice and new ways to engage our community and understand the needs and challenges we have.
Yet at the core of each LGBT communication initiative (or any for that matter) is simply, storytelling. And if that storytelling is not providing hope to its audience and conveying each human’s value and equality, the communication falls short of its full potential.
Black had a captive audience yet again, and used his words and art to deliver Milk’s message of hope. It’s a simple one, but can truly change our conversations.
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It was a beautiful speech. You can’t fail to be moved by it. It reminded me of Tom Hanks when he accepted his award for Philadelphia. It was stunning, eloquent and genuine.
I was distinctly unimpressed by Sean Penn’s speech but thankfully we had Dustin Lance Black to capture the spirit of the movie.
I love the quote from Penelope Cruz. The unity that art provides gives me hope for the future.