USA Airs MILK Featuring Special Intro by Neil Patrick Harris Today

USA Network will air Milk as the next film in the quarterly series that builds upon the Characters Unite public service campaign to advance the national dialogue to help combat hate and discrimination and promote greater tolerance and acceptance. With a personal introduction by Emmy(R) Award-winner and activist Neil Patrick Harris, Milk will be featured in commemoration of Pride Month, with limited commercial interruptions, tonight, June 1 at 8/7c.

"This film series has allowed us to present to audiences some of the most courageous characters of our time. Harvey Milk gave hope to generations of gay and lesbian Americans by encouraging them to live their lives openly and to speak out against the discrimination and prejudice they faced," said Hammer. "We are honored to share his story in commemoration of Gay Pride Month."

In 2008, Milk touched audiences by recounting the extraordinary true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to office in the state of California. An acclaimed success, Milk went on to garner eight Academy(R) Award nominations, winning for Best Actor for Sean Penn and Best Original Screenplay for Dustin Lance Black. Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) was a Gay Rights activist. His life changed history, and his courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in California. His victory was not just one for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very Nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. The film was directed by Gus Van Sant and also starred Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco and Diego Luna.

Milk is the fourth film in the successful Characters Unite Quarterly Film Series dedicated to using the power of great storytelling to increase awareness of social injustices, stimulate productive dialogue and encourage further progress. The series launched with To Kill a Mockingbird, in April 2012, with an introduction by President Barack Obama and was followed by The Color Purple, in November 2012, with an introduction by the film's star Whoopi Goldberg. Most recently, USA aired Schindler's List in February 2013 with a new introduction by the film's director Steven Spielberg, garnering 3.2 million viewers and over one million in the key demos.