The untimely death of actor Heath Ledger has cast a gray cloud over an already gloomy entertainment and awards season. The death of the 28-year-old has shocked many and driven others into insanity. For what else could you call the acts of the religious right and Bible thumpers who have decried his death as justice for having played a gay role in a motion picture and are planning to picket his funeral? I find the degree to which people can hate unfathomable. Of course we all say we hate someone or something at some point in our lives, but to revile and loathe to such extents makes me wonder how we as a people can possibly call ourselves human beings.

Heath was a fantastic actor with a gifted talent. There are not many an actor (straight, gay or otherwise undecided) who would’ve had the balls to take on a gay role such as Ennis Del Mar in “Brokeback Mountain.” He brought his own uniqueness to that role and to all of the others he took on. As his character Ennis held on to his partner Jack’s shirt towards the end of “Brokeback Mountian” to mourn him, we now to hold on and mourn the loss of our brother. Heath you will be missed and loved. We will never quit you.