I’m not sure why this thrills me so much. I mean, it never occurs to me to make assumptions about the sexuality of anyone, fictional characters included (unless, of course, their sexuality is part of the central plot), and this really doesn’t change how I feel about the books in general (I loved them, in case anyone didn’t know that), but I LOVE the fact that Rowling has made this an issue.
SO much of the discrimination and hatred directed at homosexuals is based on fear and ignorance. Does Rowling’s revelation that she imagined Dumbledore as a gay man have any bearing on his role in the story? No. Does it affect the way he treated the students under his care? No. Does it make him less admirable or trustworthy? No. Does it make him any less skillful and talented in his work? No. There are a lot of people, though, who will say that it does, and I think it’s wonderful of Rowling to make this announcement after all us straight folks – allies, neutrals, and haters alike – have had a chance to really love Dumbledore.
Now that this part of the character is revealed (this part of him, by the way, which has NO bearing whatsoever on his PROFESSIONAL life, which is the life we got to know through the books), the more closed-minded among us have the chance to evaluate exactly what is different now that the author outed the character. It will give people something to think about, and will open the door for a lot of interesting and necessary discussions, particularly with children.
I’m all for anything that brings this conversation into the open. I’m all for anything that gives me opportunities to discuss perceptions and break down stereotypes with my children and my students and my friends and family. I think it’s just fantastic that Dumbledore is gay; now I’m going to sit back and watch to see how whether people are going to use this as an opportunity to out themselves as closed-minded and intolerant, or to do some serious and careful thinking about what about a person really matters.
(p.s. – GO SOX!!)
I noticed that one of the 8th grade teams is called Dumbledore, this year. I wonder how long it will be before it is changed.
I wonder how people will react. What is truly sad, though, is that true colors will not come out here. If he were a real headmaster of a very large secondary school instead of a fictitious one, his life could be threatened.
I love Dumbledore!!! And I love JK Rowling for doing this, though the pessimist in me can’t help but wonder if she waited until now simply to make sure she sold books to homophobes.
Dumbledore? Gay? For Pete’s sake, he’s a fictitious character, he isn’t sexually oriented, doesn’t play pocket pool, doesn’t do anything, in point of fact (other than what is exactly described in the fiction itself). I haven’t read any of these reportedly fine children’s books. Does the character perform an sex acts in any of them? Does he take any actions or make any statements which would make his (ficitonal) (alleged) sexual orientation relevant to the stories?
Gay? What a crock. What the heck is this billionaire author ranting about?
Hey! I still haven’t read the book! May I PLEASE borrow it?
For a writer it’d be something you’d want to know about a character. For a reader, well it’s about being the era of fanfiction so I don’t pretend to understand, just to read. I always had that feeling about him but it wasn’t relevant so it didn’t come up.
I’m sure that she kept this quiet until after the whole series was done on purpose. I suspect it’s less a financial question as a question of not wanting to muddy the waters, knowing that people who are intolerant will make that the whole story instead of a very small part of it.
Well, duh! Why do you think they call him “headmaster”?
I could care less whether he’s gay or not, but I do have to admit I question the timing. The character is dead. The series is over. His (or any other character in the series) sexual orientation is irrelevant, so why bring it up?
Falcon, I gather that the comment was made as a result of some decisions being made with the screenplay, so it is relevant.
Even if it isn’t, I still think it’s an excellent opportunity to talk about perceptions as they apply to people and their sexuality. I think a lot of straight folks think of it as a non-issue because we’re in the mainstream; until it’s just as okay to be gay as it is to be straight, these are conversations that need to keep happening…
This announcement will make it that much harder for me to ever be able to put the Harry Potter series on my school reading list. I would likely be lynched for even suggesting it now.
And I just noticed that you’re doing NaBloPoMo; I am SO jealous. I did it last year, and wanted to do it again, but we’re going to a place without internet connection for 4 days around Thanksgiving. But I’ll be around as much as possible to support you!
Kizz, what does it mean to say that as a writer it would be something you’d want to know? The writer makes up the character, doesn’t “know” anything about the character, completely makes it up, right?
So he’s going to “come out” in the next movie?
Gerry, I’m not answering for Kizz (I’m looking forward to what her answer is), but I’m chiming in to tell you that, when I write, I don’t always “know” anything about a character – or, indeed, what it is that I’m really writing about – until it comes out of the ends of my fingers. I start a lot of posts, for example, thinking that they’re about one thing when, in the end, they turn out to be about something entirely different.
Writing is a strange and unknowable process – and writing fiction is even more so. Very often, we wait for the story to tell us what it’s about; writers who try to control – who try to KNOW – everything often end up writing stiff and stilted work.
That’s just the way I see it, though – I know that every writer is different…
I know that we sure as hell enjoyed JK’s announcement in our house. What fun! And now to sit back and watch the fuss. About a fictional character.
I didn’t hear this intriguing announcement, I’ll have to google it. Thanks for letting me into the loop!
I wonder when Ms. Rowling will announce that one of her characters has the heartbreak of psoriasis.