Dustin Lance Black is a charmer.
That much became apparent during a recent phone conversation with the Oscar-winning screenwriter ( for Milk, which starred Sean Penn ). However, behind that easygoing facade is a fierce advocate for marriage rights—a fight that constantly takes him around the country. ( Also, that journey will bring the American Foundation for Equal Rights board member to Chicago next week, as he'll be part of the Chicago House Speaker Series. )
Black talked with Windy City Times about his professional life, why he's more productive in London and his response to those LGBTs who feel too much energy is spent toward marriage equality.
Windy City Times: What do you have going on professionally? I know you're in a Barney Frank documentary and another one called The Case Against 8 [about Prop 8].
Dustin Lance Black: Oh, OK. I give my sound bites to whoever thinks they're useful. [Laughs] There's also a miniseries that I'm writing for ABC called When We Rise; that's probably the first thing we'll shoot. It's about the gay and lesbian movement from 1971 to about last July.
Then I'm directing a movie called The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, which we're hoping to shoot the first quarter of next year. And right now I do the speaking tours; I do fall and spring tours, and I stop in Illinois quite a bit.
I'm combining corporate tours with a tour of the South with [the Human Rights Campaign] to talk about what changes are needed. Then, of course, there's also the American Foundation for Equal Rights. We have a case in Virginia right now that's in front of the Supreme Court, and it's one of a handful that could bring marriage equality to all 50 states. [Editor's note: This conversation took place before Oct. 6, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear any of the cases pending before them challenging state bans on marriage for same-sex couples.]
WCT: There are some people in the LGBT community who feel that we're devoting too much energy to marriage equality and not enough to other areas. What do you say to those people?
Dustin Lance Black: One thing to consider is that we could have a marriage-equality win in the Supreme Court under equal protection—and that could have implications that go beyond marriage for gay and lesbian people nationwide. To some of the people who aren't interested in marriage—and that's perfectly fine—take a look at the reverberations of winning marriage equality on the federal level.
I also say look at the cultural reverberations—the statewide recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. It starts conversations, it brings acknowledgement of relationships to the community. I want them to consider the ripple effect of how marriage equality could affect issues such as housing and employment. And for some, such as those in the Deep South, LGBT people will be able to stay in the states they love.
But there is more work to be done, and I'd appreciate you including this: People who think we should do more than marriage equality should get to work. Do it. I agree [with them]: If you think we should do more about housing or protection for trans people, get to work.
It's a civil-rights movement, and no one is in charge. You can create your own movement. Good for you.
WCT: What is the usual focus of your talks?
Dustin Lance Black: Most of the talks I give are about the advantage of diversity. We've moved past the tolerance of diversity, the acceptance of diversity. If you're different from most people, it means you have a different perspective than most people—and unique perspectives are valuable in the workplace and in the community. I challenge people ( as I go on the road ) to look at the ways in which they're different, and to find the value in those differences.
That speech is appropriate for an LGBT audience, but it goes beyond that—to people who are treated differently because of their gender, weight, religion or the size of their bank account.
WCT: When I researched you, there was a lot of stuff regarding your personal life. What is it like having your private life out there?
Dustin Lance Black: I made a decision early on to share some of the most personal things in my life out there with the world. That was in order to tell my story and, hopefully, dispel some of the myths and stereotypes out there, and to encourage others to do the same. Gay and lesbian people shouldn't have to bare their personal lives to the world but, like Harvey Milk said, "By coming out, we do change hearts and minds." And part of coming out is talking about who we love and how we love.
I did that years ago, so I can't exactly be upset with the media for continuing to look at my personal life. It's a choice I made because I think—in addition to the thousands of others who have opened their lives—that's why we have such an acceptance of LGBT people. [Laughs] If people want to talk about who I'm dating and the cute, lovely things we do when we're in love, then that's fantastic.
WCT: Yes. I've noticed the photos you and Tom [Daley] have shared on Instagram and Twitter. I do want to ask you, though: Do you live in London?
Dustin Lance Black: I spend a third of my time in Los Angeles, a third in London and a third on American Airlines. [Both laugh.] I'm on the road constantly; I grew up an Army brat, and I never quite understood the meaning of "home." Home is where my luggage is.
WCT: What's the main difference between living in London and the United States?
Dustin Lance Black: The main difference is rain. [Laughs] We get none in Los Angeles, unfortunately, and you get a lot in England. The extension of that is that I'm more distracted in Los Angeles with the sunny weather; you want to take a hike or go to the beach. In London, I get an incredible amount of writing done—there's no temptation outside. [Interviewer laughs.]
WCT: As I'm sure you know, October is National Coming Out Month and Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day. Who was the first person you came out to?
Dustin Lance Black: The very first person was my best friend Ryan. He was my closest friend in high school and we moved to Los Angeles together to go to college. We both knew instinctively that the other was gay, but it was just something we would never talk about.
He actually came out to me first, and it was right before summer break between our sophomore and junior years. I spent a lot of time about doing the same, and I had a girlfriend that summer. Upon my return to L.A., I knew it was time. Part of it was all of these gay people coming over to our apartment at the start of our junior year—and, frankly, they could tell. Their gaydars were going off. [Both laugh.] I thought, "This is silly. Why would I continue to pretend?"
It was scary coming out to him, but my life improved a hundredfold within a month.
WCT: Did you feel like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders?
Dustin Lance Black: No; I just think that you can't underestimate the damage that closeting does to your soul—the thousand a times a day you deny yourself and the love that's in your heart. These are not things people should be shutting down: love and attraction. When you end all of that [shutting down], you feel so much better.
Then there's the very long road of the other folks you have to come out to. For many people, it's a neverending process; I decided to make my process easier by coming out in front of a billion people at the Oscars. [Both laugh.]
Dustin Lance Black—along with trans actress Laverne Cox and out NBA player Jason Collins—will be part of Chicago House's sixth-anniversary Speaker Series on Wed., Oct. 15, at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit www.chicagohouse.org/ .
Related story at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Chicago-House-Speaker-Series-to-tackle-LGBTQ-poverty/49217.html .
