I do not often read your publication but I learned that you recently
published a tribute to Bill Forbes (“Farewell to Forbes” by Alison
Lang, July 30). I have been following the glowing tributes to this
wonderful actor since his days with Mermaid Theatre 25 years ago.
Did you have to add humiliation to his already grieving family who
have lost a son and brother less than six months ago by printing the
line: “Bill was gay and he loved playing this Neanderthal asshole”?
First and foremost, Bill was a person—someone’s relative, friend,
neighbour, a wonderful artistic person (not “gay”). You ruined your
whole story with that one word and turned off countless readers of your
paper. —Jean Macle, Halifax
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2009.