Readers' Choice Award Nomination: Dustin Lance Black

As the most visible gay person in the film industry, Dustin Lance Black hasn't shied away from addressing difficult, often-controversial subjects. He returned to theater as a form of activism, penning 8, which addressed California's Proposition 8. Black's stature and influence -- such as his Oscar-winning script for Milk and his latest credit for J. Edgar -- could be attributed to his creative output alone, but he backs this up with fervent activism.

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He was a leading figure in the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the sponsor of the groundbreaking federal court case to overturn the state law, and finally saw his efforts rewarded when the Supreme Court finally heard the case and effectively eviscerated it, once again allowing same-sex couples to marry in California.

He's currently at work on an ABC miniseries, and the untitled drama will be based on and told from Black's background and experiences as a gay-rights activist.