I consider myself a huge Harry Potter fan, and now I wonder...?

Question

why everyone's so shocked to learn that Dumbledore's gay?

I've come to realize that a lot of people speculated about his (and other characters') sexuality, which I must admit I never did - it simply didn't occur to me. (Although I must admit Aberforth stumped me - but very different subject.)

My point is: All over the internet, TV, and newspapers - even on Y!A - I see people making statements like: "She just made it up!" "Don't believe it!" "There's nothing in the books about it, and I would have noticed!"
Well, true - nowhere in the books does it say that Dumbledore is gay - however, nor does it say that he is straight! Are we really so narrow-minded that the absence of homosexual references automatically means heterosexual? Is it so farfetched to consider that Dumbledore's (or any of the professors' but Snape) sexuality isn't important to the story, and that's why it's not included? Does it matter who a hero loves? Should it?

Answer 1

Hi,

I read the comments by some of your 'answerers' and agree that Dumbledore's sexuality doesn't really matter to us.

However, I am firmly of the opinion that it DOES matter to the writer. I don't know how many of you have ever written fiction?

Writers don't (or at least very rarely) sit down and just start writing and have a wonderful book at the end of it.

Before a word goes on the page most writers will sketch a story line, choose characters and will often write very detailed breakdowns of the characters' lives, past, aims, as well as physical attributes.

This is important, as the characters need to be believable and have human traits (even if wizards!) that fit with the action and the interaction between one character and the others. (I, usually, imagine someone I know for every character in my stories, which makes it far easier for me to identify with them)

J.K. is, quite obviously, a far more successful writer than I, but she will use some of the same 'tricks' of character presentation.

Having Dumbledore as 'gay' in her mind does not mean he should act 'gay' (or camp)on the page or in the films. His gayness (as in real life) can be hidden from general view but will affect his inner feelings and the way the writer portrays him. (after all, who would have suspected Rock Hudson of being gay? Until he died it was a facet of him that was not displayed to the public.

The books are immensely successful without the need to show homosexuality either in words on the page or action in the films. Only JK knows just how much the gay past of Dumbledore affected what went into the books.

It is obvious that a person's sexuality does affect their behaviour (without, in this case, the need for sexual overtones, campness or strange clothing styles, etc) but this certainly does not mean the 'gayness' should be exposed to the reader, or filmgoer...it isn't in real life and shouldn't be in fiction.

It is the depth of character that makes the stories believable (despite the magic and wizardry) and which has made the author so successful.

The last book has now been written, so enjoy the ones we have and don't worry about characters' sexuality...if it was important to the story it would be there on the page...if not it still remains in all of the characters' backgrounds because JK Rowling is an extremely thorough and well researched writer.

Cheers,

BobSpain

Answer 2

I, too, am a huge Harry Potter fan and was not at all shocked to learn Dumbledore is gay. In the meantime, the plot has never involved any kind of romantic relationship for him (unless you include the Grindelwald relationship JKR referred to), so I'm not sure what it matters. Dumbledore's sexuality does not affect the story in anyway, so I'm not sure why people are so upset about it. All good authors know (and JKR is one of the best) that irrelevant information is useless in any plot and will only bore readers. A writing professor once told me that authors only tell you things you need to know, that every piece of information they give you matters. Dumbledore's sexuality in no way affects the story of Harry Potter, so I'm not surprised that JKR didn't reveal it in the books.

Speaking in more general terms, of course it shouldn't matter whether a story's hero is gay or straight, but that doesn't mean it won't matter to some readers. People get upset over the craziest things, so I'm not surprised that some fans are lashing out over this.

Answer 3

I think that a lot of it is simply denial, people have their own ideas about the characters and hate it when they find out that JKR had different ideas then their's.

In one way it is funny, "How dare the author cross me up", in another, it is a testament to how well JKR got her readers emotionally involved in the books that it causes such a storm.

Of course, there is more to it then that. For some, they are up in arms because they hated/fear gays and now they have to reconcile their prejudices with the fact that they like, care and even love the character Dumbledore. For others, they weren't that fond of the books, dislike or are envious of JKR's success, and are willing to ascribe unflattering motivations for her saying Dumbledore's gay. An of course that is leaving aside those whose religious beliefs led them to oppose the books anyway.

That there was nothing in the books to indicate his sexual orientation is, I think more than just the fact that it is a J/YA series. Dumbledore is an admirable person who happens to be gay, pretty much in the same way that he has a beard. It was part of his back story and might not ever have come out had a screenwriter not invented a love interest for HBP, the movie.

BTW, there is some inkling of this in DH, where Rita Skeeter talks about devoting a chapter in her book about Dumbledore to the Dumbledore/Harry relationship. This is not to say that there was anything improper--but that JKR did put out a hint.

wl

Answer 4

I should not matter, but people are going to make a big deal out of it anyway. As I read in one story, JK said that the people who have never read the books but complain about the witchcraft will have one more thing to complain about. But in the end, it really does not matter, and should not change the way you feel about dumbledore. However, hopefully, it will open some kids eyes that just because a person is a homosexual, it doesnt stop them from being in the hero role.

Answer 5

I shocked when I first heard about it. I thought Oh My God, because I'm one of HP fan. Yes, there are a lot of people saying she made it up and everything like that. But they wouldn't know about it, because they didn't make HP did they?

No-one knew about it until J.K. Rowling was asked by a fan when she was on a book tour about the last book. People did a big gasp. It wasn't included in the book because, of course, Harry never asked Dumbledore or perhaps the book wasn't about him. However it is (kind of) written in the sixth book or the seventh. Can't remember. But it wrote that he was still submitted to the dude he fought and killed. It doesn't matter who a hero loves.

It was true, that if it was in the books we would have notice.

I dont' care if he's gay or anybody else in there.

Answer 6

Why shocked?
Many thought it was a kids story - a fact JKR denied by pointing out the series stared with a double murder.

Read the original transcript (see link below)
Grindelwald was the one Albus liked, but she never said they were actually a couple. Grindelwald was trying to use the smartest wizard around to help him in his search for the Hallows. When Dumbledore realised he was just being used, that may be the cause of the duel that left Albus's sister dead. After all, the 3 men fighting all used killing curses, but no-one knew which one hit her.

Answer 7

Not into Harry Potter, but know about books, movies, etc.

Read Yahoo news about all the hysterics. Why should it matter? If you read all the books and watched all the movies, you must have enjoyed every minute of it.

Now suddenly everyone, maybe not everyone is starting to doubt the writer and/or the story. That's such nonsense.

I applaud her for writing the books. Such mystery, and all those characters. I say WOW what a writer.

To think, it all starting on a train home, the thoughts came and she started taking notes. Inspiration hits you when you least expect it to.

Answer 8

I absolutely agree. I feel like this "revolation" is interesting because I love Harry Potter so much, but it doesn't change anything at all about the series for me. Too many people expect gay people to be like the flamboyant people at the Pride Parades. I think Rowling has the perfect attitude: she said "I always pictured him as gay," and yet never felt the need to prove it or make a statement with her books. Dumbledore is a wizard, a mentor, a headmaster, a friend, and a human (as demonstrated superbly in the last book). Oh, and he happens to be gay. That detail is as insignificant to me as the color of his hair and far less interesting than his obsession with Muggle candies.

Answer 9

Well, I guess you're not such a huge fan, after all. I personally like those covers, even the slightly childish ones. And I've yet to see a dragon that looks ridiculous.

Answer 10

yeah, i also agree with that but come to think of it, sexuality is one of the tools that determines a person's state of mind simply because it affects the way he/she thinks, interacts, and perceives other people. however, the specific novel you're pointing to is very much child-oriented in nature, tickling their imaginative response, so many of the avid readers of the said book don't think that other characters are just normal enough. in a novel or in the other stories, whom the hero loves really matter, actually, what every character does is so important because that little piece is important in creating a valuable story, in addition, writing as such is a form of art, and like any other art form, a careful analysis is needed to understand what it wanted to portray.

;)