Sean Penn keeps to Milk's message in acceptance speech

By April MacIntyre Feb 23, 2009, 12:48 GMT

US actor Sean Penn holds his Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in the film \'Milk\' at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 22 February 2009. The Academy Awards honor excellence in cinema. EPA/PAUL BUCK

The Academy Awards recognized "Milk" when actor Sean Penn was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor.

Penn started his acceptance speech with "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns," upon accepting the best actor award for his portrayal of the slain San Francisco Supervisor and gay rights leader Harvey Milk.

His wife, actress Robin Wright-Penn was within frame fighting back tears as she watched him give his acceptance speech.  She was not mentioned in his acceptance speech.

"I did not expect this, and I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often," added Penn.

Penn noted the anti-gay demonstrators outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and said: "I think it's a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

Also taking the Oscar was scribe Dustin Lance Black, who received the award for best original screenplay. Black told of learning about Milk as a 13-year-old. "It gave me the hope to live my life openly as who I am," he said in his acceptance speech.

Penn's introduction by Robert DeNiro during the Best Actor moment was also well-received by the audience, as DeNiro teased his friend for convincingly portraying a gay politician: "How did he do it? How for so many years did Sean Penn get all those jobs playing straight men?"