Via EQCA:
The legislation calls on the Governor to proclaim May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day, designating it as a “day of special significance.”

The legislation was originally introduced last year by Sen. Leno but the Governor vetoed the measure on the grounds that Harvey Milk was unknown beyond San Francisco. Milk, who was the first openly gay elected official of a major American city, was responsible for passing San Francisco’s gay-rights ordinance and helping to defeat the Briggs Initiative, which would have banned gay and lesbian teachers from public schools. Milk, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was assassinated in November 1978, but his legacy continues. He was named one of the most influential people of the 20th Century by Time.

A video of Dustin Lance Black’s and Sean Penn’s acceptance speeches can be seen (and read) here.

Upon winning, Dustin Lance Black had the following to say:

“Oh my God. This was, um, this 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. And, um, 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.

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”.

Sean Penn’s acceptance speech video:

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – Sean Penn
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – Josh Brolin
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING – Gus Van Sant
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – Dustin Lance Black
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN – Danny Glicker
ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING – Elliot Graham
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – Danny Elfman

If you have yet to see this film, it is a must. Here’s the trailer again: