Harvey Milk's story brought to life in the recently released on DVD film Milk is a breakthrough for the representation of homosexuals in the media. In response to the recent class content regarding the skewed representation of queer lifestyles in the media, and following our viewing of The Celluloid Closet, commenting on Milk seems appropriate.
Many Americans still are in the dark or in the closet so to speak when it comes to understanding major touchstones in the quest for gay rights. Prior to Milk, I was upset to find few people knew of his story or were informed as to the extreme adversity gays have faced throughout the quest for equality. It is a monumental in terms of censorship and films in general that this production achieved such great success. I am stoked that Dustin Lance Black recieved best original screenplay for this achievement. Although the movie moves slowly it truly captures Harvey's zest for gay rights and the limitless extent of his efforts in creating security and community for homosexuals. Black's acceptance speech at the Oscar's hits home in terms of today's gay and lesbian youth and fears still prevalent with coming out. It was refreshing to see an out artist openly expressing the normalcy and beauty in accepting one's sexuality. His speech claimed "God loves you" and something to the extent of who you are cannot be deemed wrong, no god could hate you. Tying into the censorship of "perverted" film material seen in The Celluloid Closet pushed by the Catholic church, this speech is especially important. Someone can finally say that the "god" so offended by homosexual material actually loves the homosexuals just as much as the straight ones. Love it. I am fortunate to live in a generation where being gay is finally acceptable and now the media is able to freely illustrate the efforts of the beautiful souls who have paved the rocky road in order to reach this point. I highly recommend Milk, the film does Harvey Milk and gays everywhere needed justice.
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