Upbeat endings

RE “Go for More ‘Broke’? Maybe,” by Robert W. Welkos, Jan. 9: We can only hope that future gay-themed projects will allow the characters to live. As great as “The Mayor of Castro Street” is, Harvey Milk is dead. “Philadelphia” was pure tragedy, another dead gay man with a shadowy lover. And please, put “The Front Runner” to rest. Why does the industry continue to drag out that soap opera novel, written 30 years ago, as a viable vehicle? Billy dies. Why must we continue to be tortured in love and die just when things are going good?

I propose a sequel to “Brokeback Mountain,” in which Heath Ledger’s character comes to terms with his queerness, gets out of that depressing mobile home and, with the help of his daughter, meets a nice man from Dallas and ends up with a successful western wear franchise.

It could happen. It has happened.

RANDY PESQUEIRA

Garden Grove