Acceptance speeches aside, Oscars’ best gay-rights moment was Mel Gibson cheering ‘Milk’
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 9:00 am
- 12 Comments
Among the highlights of last night’s Oscars were anti-Prop. 8 comments from “Milk” star Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black that gave new meaning to the term “acceptance speech.” But the evening’s most delicious pro-gay-rights moment came a bit later and went by in a flash: a clip of socially conservative actor Mel Gibson, from his homophobic movie “Braveheart,” subtly embedded within scenes from “Milk,” the bio-pic about gay-rights hero Harvey Milk.
After the jump, see clips of the montage and the speeches by Black and Penn.
The montage, part of the build-up to the presentation of the best-picture award (which “Slumdog Millionaire” won) made it look like Gibson, portraying Scottish hero in in full regalia (including facepaint, long hair and kilt), was cheering on the rhetoric of the late San Francisco city councilman Milk:
SEAN PENN (as Harvey Milk in “Milk”): “Hello, I’m Harvey Milk … and I’m here to recruit you! … We can have a revolution here, but you have to fight.”
MEL GIBSON (as Scottish hero William Wallace in “Braveheart”): “What will you do without freedom?”
PENN (as Milk): “I know you’re angry! I’m angry!”
Here is the “Milk” montage:
Here are transcribed excerpts from Sean Penn’s acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best Actor, plus the video clip (comments begin at 2:35):
Thank you, you commie, homo-loving sons of guns. … For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.
Here is a transcribed excerpt from “Milk” screenwriter Dustin Lance Black’s acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and the video clip (nomination montage begins at 2:55, speech at 4:10):
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 that I could one day live my life openly as who I am, and that maybe even that I could fall in love and one day get married. (Applause) 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 their 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. (Applause) Thank you, thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk.
Gibson produced, directed and starred in “Braveheart,” a movie many saw as homophobic, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director in 1995. Here is his famous battle speech from which the clip in the Oscars montage was taken (note the similarity of Gibson’s how-will-you-look-back-on-this line to Penn’s shaming of Prop. 8 supporters):
Gibson: “I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny! You’ve come to fight as free men. And free men you are. What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?”
Soldier: “Two thousand against ten? No! We will run — and live!”
Gibson: “Aye! Fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, just once chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom! Alba bu gra! (Freedom forever)”
Watch the clip from “Braveheart” here. Another “Braveheart” scene (video clip) is frequently cited as the film’s most homophobic, in which King Edward I of England pushes his son’s male lover out a window to his death. Read about Gibson’s alleged homophobia here. Someone named Mel Gibson donated to the Prop. 8 cause, but it may or may not be the movie star.
12 Comments
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
The closest that I got to watching is seeing the show listed on the channel listing. As far as loosing freedoms, I disagree in that such an action might be considered OK in one culture but not generally.
There are three systems of what is right and wrong.
The first: culturally, or ethically is the standards as defined by that particular time, place and the people there. What is OK on Broadway Street in Seattle may not be considered such in Ballard. Head hunting was OK in New Guinea at one time but not later. This system has an advantage in being checkerboard in that if you don’t like something, go to your own area and see how your system works compared to other “squares” If you do like somthing than everyone can unite together for mutual support in one solid square color and move the boundaries out, or in, as the population changes. The disadvantage is the word Ghetto.
The second system is legal. Remember that you were under an obligation to turn Jews into the Gestapo because it was the law. The same with Underground Railroad conductors and passengers. Or kill someone in the United States of America (Missouri) because of their religion. Like culturally, just because it is legal don’t mean it’s right.
The third is the only one that counts, what might be called morally. I suspect that we all have something or someone who is the Highest Authority on what is right and wrong, good and evil. The nature of this Highest Authority is up for debate and the various hypothesises (I hope that is plural of hypothesis) are religious belief systems, or in many cases, religions. From Judism in it’s various forms, Christian in it’s various forms, Paganism meaning those that worship the sun, moon, wind etc. in it’s various forms (I don’t want to offend those that pray to their ancestors (Shinto) by lumping them in this group. If you have a better catagory name I don’t know it.), or those that believe that there are just principles like (as I understand it) Buddhism, or Atheism Each has their own religious beliefs and should be freely able to debate the truthfullness in the court of public (and personal) opinion.
I believe that homosexuality is wrong and there should be no means of harming me based on that. At most those that have a contrary view can try to debate it in a fair manner.
As far as boycotting someone or getting him fired, individuals can choose who they spend their money with but getting someone fired (or forced to quit) is something that they would not like to be done to themselves. The Golden Rule applies.
Back to Hollywood. They have their opinion and can say it with just as much force as I or any other non-expert. I don’t have to listen to it and have a channel or power button.
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
It’s no surprise to me that the tiny ghetto of Hollywood, which has grown rich on the money of fools willing to uncritically accept its immoral propaganda as “entertainment,” would use the Oscars for such a blatant display of “Mormophobia.”
Acolytes of the cult of Hollywood have nothing to fear from the Latter-day Saints, who reach out to them with a loving call to repent of their sins and come unto Christ. But Hollywood certainly needs to fear God, who has declared that “none but the truly penitent are saved.”
“What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.”
“Therefore, . . . whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.”
(Book of Mormon, Alma 42:24-25,27)
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/42/24-25,27#24
We all experience the temptations of the flesh. The real heroes in this world are those who quietly, in the fear of God seek his help to overcome.
hthalljr’gmail’com
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
Gregg Weber:
I think people who think homosexuality is wrong are wrong, and that we should harm them socially and economically, just like we do to racists, until they decide to act right. You’re right, we do have the right to spend our money where we will and suggest that our friends do the same.
We can have a debate on the issue of whether homosexuality is wrong in a fair manner. What we cannot have a debate on in a fair manner is whether you get to do anything about it. You can think homosexuality is as wrong as you want, but the moment you dare to strike at me through the law, prepared to be struck back at. How dare you think you can get away with something like that with “no means of harming [you] based on that”?
Wake up, and wise up.
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
Tracy:
You can stuff all that garbage you know where. That’s fine if you wanna believe it, and I have no problems with mormons choosing to believe that stuff and live their lives by it. Here’s a deal: I won’t force you to be gay, and you don’t force me to live by your Mormon rules. OK?
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
John K:
I reject your vulgar reference about where to put my “garbage,” but it seems that when you read, you skip scripture like some people skip equations. The scripture said, “whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.”
Just in case you still don’t get the fact that Mormons DO NOT EVER
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
To John K: (continued)
(sorry about the earlier partial post).
Just in case you still don’t get the fact that Mormons DO NOT EVER force their religion on others, consider #11 of our 13 Articles of Faith, written by the prophet Joseph Smith:
“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1/11#11
Yes, we do try with all our energy to persuade men to repent of their sins and to come unto Christ. But we do NOT EVER try to force them!
You are as free to choose a homosexual lifestyle as you are to yield to any other kind of immoral addiction, be it pornography, adultery, fornication, drugs, or alcohol. You are also free to tell me to mind my own business, and you are even free to tell God to mind his business. But what you cannot do is force God to protect you from the natural-temporal and spiritual-eternal consequences of violating his laws.
I will strongly oppose your full-out attack on my freedom of speech and religion. When you choose to use the cudgel of judicial fiat to force me to call your immoral relationship a “marriage,” then you are denying my rights of freedom of speech and seeking to turn your immoral behavior into a state-enforced religion.
When I and my fellow Mormons use all powers of persuasion to help to overturn that abuse of judicial power, and you refuse to accept the results of the election, vandalize my places of worship, attempt to terrorize our temples with mailed white powder, get my fellow Mormons fired from their jobs with black lists, then you have clearly left the arena of persuasion to employ the methods of force.
So don’t talk to me about forcing my values on others when the homosexual agenda is EXACTLY about using the police power of the state to force your values on others.
hthalljr’gmail’com
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
Boo hoo, Tracy Hall Jr
Hide behind your “god” all you want
You are simply pointing a finger and saying “I am better than you.”
“My relatrionship is better than yours”
“You are less than human”
Sorry, girl, but that’s not God
That’s called Hate
I suspect that the true God doesn’t follow some silly book of fables written by man-or the silly “second” book that Joseph Smith allegedly was inspired to write even though when a page “disappeared” he could not write it again by rote…
Anyway, you are on the losing side. Gays will get full rights and Mormons will forever be branded a silly cult of misguided, bigoted fools
Quote the Bible all you want-no one is listening
Teh age of right wing power is over..
God favors the gays-that’s why we have come so far….
White powder? Uh, commanment #8 about false witnesses…no proof that wa s agy person-maybe it was a mormon sick of your tripe…
Bottom line-stay out of my marriage and focus on your own
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
Just in case you still don’t get the fact that Mormons DO NOT EVER force their religion on others, consider #11 of our 13 Articles of Faith, written by the prophet Joseph Smith:
“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1/11#11
—-
Then why the hell did you support Prop 8? The only thing that trash was based on was the “fact” that your religion says homosexuality is wrong, so you feel the need to stamp it out and do whatever you can to relegate us as less than human.
Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
I was disturbed by the intolerance shown by Sean Penn. He claims that he represents tolerance, but unless you see the world directly through his eyes, you must be shamed for your views at every turn. When he presents himself and his beliefs this way, he presents himself as an angry man.
“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Comment posted February 25, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
The fact remains that your are arguing intolerance for something THAT DOES NOT AFFECT YOU. My marrying my partner is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. I am a citizen; I pay my taxes. I exercise my obligations to vote and serve jury duty. I am entitled to the same benefits for my family that you are for yours – tax breaks, survivorship, familial stewardship that is recognized by the government. Your special rights as heterosexual married people are unfairly denied to me because I will NOT live a life of lies. Giving these rights equitably takes nothing away from you; denying them demonstrates the true nature of your evil bias.
Comment posted February 27, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
All of this “intolerance” seems to come from the other side! If we do not believe as you do, you get ugly, angry and mean! So tolerance is only suppose to come from the side that does not believe in gay marriage?! Interesting! Hypercritical! Quit preaching tolerance when you don’t practice it yourself.
Comment posted July 30, 2009 @ 9:27 pm
If an Oscar were given for best acceptance speech while , If you’re a straight producer who has accepted a gay award in front of hundreds of cheering queers, that exposed Mel Gibson (again) as a bigot we knew him to be familiar with the racial politics of the gay rights movement.
loving seem
Harley Davidson
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