The Academy Awards Wrap-Up: Best Actor Sean Penn
Posted 02.23.09 by Ryan
Sean Penn, who next to Best Original Screenplay winner Dustin Lance Black, made the most political statements in his acceptance speech, was asked mostly political questions backstage after his Oscar win. Both Penn and Black were asked what they think President Obama should do about gay rights in America. Penn felt confident that gay rights would change:
We know his public position as far as the specific issue of gay marriage has not been, let's say, officially supportive of that. I would like to believe that that's a political stand right now and not necessarily a future one or a felt one. Because it's not a luxury, it's a human need, [Obama]'ll adapt. I'm more focused in letting him know that we will support him in taking those kinds of initiatives.
Earlier, Black was also vocal about gay rights after he accepted his Oscar:
There's a few things that I would love him to do immediately, which is to repeal "don't ask don't tell," and DMA, Defensive Marriage Act. But I do think that for inspiration for the gay community, we need to look not to Proposition 8, but dream bigger and look back to 1964 and the Civil Rights Act, because no group has ever won full civil rights in this country going state by state or county by county. I think it is time for the gay and lesbian community to have a federal civil rights act for full civil rights.
As for Mickey Rourke, Penn continued to be complimentary to the actor he took the Oscar from:
I've known Mickey for over 25 years. He had me almost throughout The Wrestler, weeping. Comebacks are funny, and we talk about it with [Rourke], but everyone in this room has to make a comeback every day. I think what's sensational about him is what's always sensational about him; he's one of the great poetic talents in acting that we have.