Sean Penn last night won the Screen Actors Guild award for best actor for his performance in Milk.

Milk is set in 1970s San Francisco, and is the true story of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist and California’s first openly gay elected official.

IIn his 11 months in office, Milk sponsored a gay rights bill and helped to defeat a proposition that would have seen openly gay and lesbian teachers sacked. He was assassinated at City Hall on November 27th 1978.

Milk has also been nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Director.