American screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black was BOTD in 1974. Born in Sacramento County, California he was raised a Mormon. After his father left the family home, his family lived in San Antonio, Texas before settling in Salinas, California. He developed an interest in theatre as a child, studying drama at the University of California Los Angeles. In 2000, he wrote and directed his first feature film, the gay romantic comedy The Journey of Jared Price. His documentary feature On the Bus, chronicling six gay friends journeying to the Burning Man festival, was released in 2001. He was hired as a writer and consultant for the TV series Big Love, chronicling a polygamous Mormon marriage. He is best known for his screenplay for Milk, a biopic about gay politician and activist Harvey Milk. Directed by Gus Van Sant in 2008, it was a critical and commercial hit, winning Oscars for Black’s screenplay and Sean Penn’s portrayal of Milk. He also wrote and directed the documentary Pedro, profiling the life of AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, and the little-seen feature film Virginia. Black wrote the screenplay for the biopic J. Edgar, exploring the closeted life and relationships of FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover. Directed by Clint Eastwood, it was a critical and commercial flop. Black later blamed the film’s failure on Eastwood’s reluctance to explore the script’s homosexual themes. Black’s play 8, portraying the overturning of Californian anti-gay initiative Proposition 9, debuted on Broadway in 2011. In 2014, nude photos of Black engaging in unprotected sex were leaked to the tabloids, leading to his being dis-invited from speaking at Pasadena City College. A furious Black made a public statement, defending his right to privacy and and refusing to be shamed by allegations of irresponsible behaviour. The college board of trustees later apologised and invited him to speak at the college. Black has been in a relationship with Olympic diver Tom Daley since 2013. They were married in 2017, and have two children together via a surrogate.