There was no finer place to be last night, listening to Sean Penn give his acceptance speech, than the Academy of Friends gala in San Francisco. The annual gala, which benefits a dozen HIV/AIDS service organizations in the Bay Area, was packed with revelers.
When Sean Penn was announced as Best Actor, the hall went wild. Men in tuxedos were literally leaping in the air. Just as quickly, the place quieted down to hear what he had to say.
I proceeded to cry through his entire acceptance speech… as if… well, I had won the damn award. I know this award is supposedly about the craft of acting and Penn’s skill as performer, but just want to say thanks to him for using his limited air time to stick up for all the same-sex couples in California who are, or would like to be, married.
There was plenty of excitement outside the gala. You can read about the reaction in The Castro here.
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