Sean Penn is a brilliant actor who maybe hasn’t previously got the recognition he deserves. But that’s now all changed, with Penn picking up the ‘Best Actor’ Oscar for his role in Milk, the story of Harvey Milk.

The 2009 Academy Awards passed off without incident and without many surprises on the night. One of the few, and clearly the biggest shock, was Sean Penn winning the ‘Best Actor’ Oscar over Mickey Rourke.

This video shows Penn’s acceptance speech, which begins with the immortal, and obviously well-rehearsed line, “Thank you. You commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns.” I think half of Hollywood got the joke while the other half dropped their glasses of champagne in shock.

Penn won the Oscar for his portrayal of a gay rights activist and openly out politician. Harvey Milk, the man in question, was assassinated in 1978, and 30 years later, there is still a stigma attached to being famous and openly gay.

Maybe Penn’s performance in the film and subsequent Oscar win will help change the minds of some of he small-minded people who still deny everyone the same rights based on the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexual orientation.