Last night, Dustin Lance Black won an Oscar for Best Screenplay and totally deserved it. Black who grew up in a Mormon household, was raised in a Mormon culture and lived on various military bases. Growing up, Black worried about his sexuality, and his attraction to guys.

In a recent interview, he revealed that he thought he was going to hell. That if he ever admitted his true sexuality that he would be hurt by others. When he found himself attracted to a boy in his neighborhood at the age of six or seven. He says that his “acute awareness” of his sexuality made him dark, shy and at times suicidal, and he only came out after leaving high school.

Fortunately, last night Black had a worldwide audience, and a platform to discuss important social issues we face today.

THR Reports:

“Milk” screenwriter Dustin Lance Black was not shy about politics when he greeted reporters backstage. Asked about what he’d like to see from President Obama, he said that “a few things I’d love him to do immediately is, repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and the Defense of Marriage Act.” Then he got broader: “For inspiration, we need to look not at Proposition 8 but look back to 1964. No group has ever won full civil rights in this country going state by state, county by county.” But he also couldn’t resist a more emotional moment. Shedding a tear, he said, “Harvey gave me his story, and it saved my life.

His elegant and heartfelt acceptance speech was incredibly inspirational. Congrats Dustin!!!