Sean Penn - Penn Blasts Anti-Gay Protesters

SEAN PENN has hit out at anti-gay demonstrators who lined the streets outside the Academy Awards on Sunday (22Feb09) to protest against same-sex marriage.

The star won the Best Actor Oscar at the ceremony for his portrayal of assassinated gay politician Harvey Milk in biopic Milk.

And backstage at the prizegiving, he criticised those who support the banning of gay marriage in California.

When asked what he would tell the protestors, he responded: "I'd tell them to turn in their hate card and find their better self.

"It's very sad in a way, because it's a demonstration of such emotional cowardice, to be so afraid of extending the same rights to your fellow man as you would want for yourself."