R&S: Dumbledore is gay. How do you feel about this?

Question

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/10/22/books.potter.dumbledore.ap/index.html

Does this make your more or less inclined to let your kids read the book? Or do you really not care?

He was only dead for one book. And she picked the most popular character at large.

I don't really care one way or another, except now I want to reread the last book and look for the subtext.

Although I must say, it seems a bit fishy that she didn't include it in the last book. There was PLENTY of opportunity to do so, especially when people were trying to dig up dirt on Dumbledore, the biography, Harry digging into Dumbledore's past, etc. It almost seems like she came up with this after the books were written.

Answer 1

Kinda saw it comming actually. No really, my gay-dar was just up, I can't really explain why.

Definatley my favorite character. He's the one that, despite his brilliance, brings true human frailty and depth of emotion to the books. He's the almost Greek Tragedian, who despite his immense power and ability, in the end is denstined to fail even as he succeeds.

His character is second to Lot's wife for best tragic figure of human kindness. She, despite all the sin and wickedness, despite the command from Above not to, did the most beautiful and human thing I could imagine. She looked back.

Answer 2

Perhaps she was implying that Dumbledore had risen to such greatly magically enlightened heights that he attained the level of hermaphrodite in the metaphorically hermetic sense of the term that I think Crowley and some other (real not fictional) high magicians in the modern history of ceremonial magick took into the realm of bisexuality (or at least homosexual and bisexual sex acts).

No one reading this response probably knows what I'm talking about and it might be completely irrelevant and have no bearing on what Rowling was really doing with the character (if anything in actuality), but that's a good thing. The Potter books are great kids fantasy literature. It's not good to "read into" them so much.

Answer 3

I think it's awesome. I think it's just an extra little tidbit for those hardcore HP fans (like myself) to make us go hmmmm some more. Her characters are so complex with so many layers, and this just gives us more to think about!!!! I wasn't too surprised.
And by HisGrace, I can't believe that there are really adult minds out there that believe there is a sinister undertone and sinister leading to children in JK's books. I think God's more worried about what's inside and real things and real issues then a couple of books that have given so many children pleasure and a broader sense of imagination. As parents it's up to you to let your kid know that this world is not real (obviously) and that some things are just for fun. If you look for it, you can find something bad about or in just about anything. But why always look for the downside and bad in things, when you should look at the positive aspects. God loves us all and wants us all to love each other. You calling her a rich witch and saying she's probably going to hell is a little extreme don't you think?
He who casts the first stone.............

Answer 4

When you read the last book, pay attention to the letter from Dumbledore to Grindelwald. Mybe she didn't intend it that way, but it sounded like Dumbledore was enamored with him. You didn't notice it at first because well, he's a guy. It comes off more super chummy, but now it makes sense. Hang tight, I'm goin to check it and see if I can quote.


"But I do not complain, for if you had not have been expelled, we never would have met."(DH 337)

I have said that in many a secret admirer letter, how about you?

Nobody said it was explcit, and it wasn't supposed to be. The answers are in the unanswered questions, like why WAS Dumbledore such great friends with someone like that?

And why was he so hesitant to go face Grindelwald, the man who possibly killed his sister? After five years of killings and fear, Dumbledore didn't go until "forced to do so by the pleas of the wzarding world"(359)?

Well, people in denial, think what you will, but it really was there all along.

Answer 5

Well I am a Muslim but I don't really care. Anyway, it doesn't make a difference because there was no indication in the books that Dumbledore was gay. J.K.Rowling should have put a scene in the book where Harry walks into a room and finds Dumbledore snogging Snape. That way, me and my friends would have something to laugh at and maybe kids these days would find gays more acceptable, or just feel grossed out. I don't know.

Answer 6

I don't care. My kid is only 1. But if she were older, I'd find something more worthwhile and better written.

ps. To correct some of the posters who think JKR is teaching witchcraft and wicca through HP: HP is not a accurate representation of witches or wiccans. JKR herself has even said this.. Of course, there are people dumb enough out there to believe otherwise, but someone who wants to learn wicca or witchcraft isn't going to go to a piece of fiction. Instead, they'd check out books by Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, Tony Steele, etc. These people *do* teach wicca and witchcraft. Or they'd simply just ASK A WITCH OR A WICCAN!

Sorry for the rant, but this ignorance and misinformation on witchcraft and wicca drives me nuts.

Answer 7

The first thought that came to mind when I heard about this was how can a fictional character be gay? I'm pretty sure that homosexuality requires being a real living person. I think Rowling is simply trying to either make a political statement, gain publicity or both.

Answer 8

I'm neutral. I don't really have a "feeling" about it. Knowing this certainly wouldn't keep me from allowing my kids to read the Harry Potter books. It used to be something we did together, when they were too young to read such a book... We'd all cuddle up and I'd read it to them. No regrets.

Answer 9

To me personally it makes no difference whatsoever. Being "gay" is simply one's sexual orientation; it has nothing to do with whether one is a good person or a bad person.

For society at large, however, I love what Rowling has done. Dumbledore was the greatest wizard of his age, the wisest, the most powerful, the most accomplished. He was also the only Potter character (to the best of my recollection) to quote scripture, and he was constantly around children yet there was never a hint of pedophilia. Dumbledore being gay says that there is nothing wrong with gay people; they are just like everyone else: some good, some bad, some terrific, some horrible. I hope it changes a few lives.


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Answer 10

The books were not about anyone's opinion on sexuality. So no problem letting kids read them.

EDIT. I agree her comments were "fishy". Almost makes you wonder if she was frustrated in general, or felt this was a good attention tactic. The whole thing has stirred up a bunch of people for really no good reason. The books are done.