
I'm a middle-aged grandmother, a straight woman, who is the mother of two daughters: a beautiful lesbian woman and a beautiful straight woman. I also have very dear friends, both at work and in my personal life, who are gay. Your article about Heath Ledger's tragic death is spot-on. I have been absolutely devastated and haunted by this beautiful, talented young man's death in a way that I haven't been able to explain, and I thank you for articulating my feelings for me. Even though I am not gay myself, because of my loved ones in the gay community and the concomitant raising of my consciousness, I think that without realizing it, I felt connected to him in the way your article talks about. I don't know if another young actor's death would affect me in this way or not, but as you stated, it's like it happened to someone that was a real part of my life. Thanks again.