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PrintAnti-gay church plans to picket star’s funeral
Reports that a homophobic church plans to picket the funeral of actor Heath Ledger is drawing criticism from a Jewish group.
Westboro Baptist Church, in Topeka, Kansas, insists that Ledger, the 28-year-old movie star who was found dead in his New York apartment on Tuesday, supported homosexuality because of his highly acclaimed performance in the film “Brokeback Mountain.”
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement slamming the church.
“Heath Ledger’s funeral should be no place for haters,” said the ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman. “It is outrageous that the Westboro Baptist Church would attempt to turn the untimely and sad death of a Hollywood celebrity into a homophobic spectacle.”
Members of the churched gained national notoriety when they appeared at the funeral of Matthew Shepard bearing signs reading “No Fags in Heaven” and “God Hates Fags.”
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