Dumbledore/Gay Thing?

Question

Okay, two questions
1. How do we know he's gay? What is the part that says he's been w/ Grindlewalde besides just as a friend, did I miss that part when i red the book? If possible, give me exact senence/passage.
2.Wht's the big deal w/ him being gay? What' s ur poinion ont his ?

I thought him and ol' Grindy were just buds! Not lovers!

Answer 1

JK says there are 'clues', but i can't see a thing.

I agree, does it really matter?

Answer 2

I don't think that JKR has an agenda, or is seeking more publicity. According to the story I read, she had told the writer of the screenplay for HBP that Dumbledore was gay because there was mention of a female love interest in the screenplay and she had to set them right. Having done that, she might as well have made it public, since it would have eventually come out anyway--she could control when and how it was done. and in any case, this story came out because she was directly asked if Dumbledore loved anyone.

Throughout the series, we know Dumbledore as a tireless and seemingly single-minded fighter against Dark Wizards (at least from Harry's perspective; we do have to remember that Albus is also a great teacher, an alchemist, and important theoretical Wizard--remember the tools and instruments he made himself). But how did Albus become that way?

We learn much about this in DH, with Arianna's story, Aberforth's story and the story of the friendship between Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald. In reading DH, it was clear that Grindelwald seduced Dumbledore on a number of levels; intellectually, ideologically, and, by JKR's new revelation, emotionally. We don't know if that seduction was sexual as well, and I'm not sure it is important for us to know.

The revelation completes the picture for us of a man who felt betrayed, injured by one he loved, ashamed at how far he went from rational thought and behavior, how far he really was from what he thought he was.

The up shot is that we now know more completely Dumbledore's motivations for fighting Dark Wizards--his shame at his own tangential contribution to Grindelwald's career, his reluctance to fight him, and, when Voldemort rose, his determination to not to repeat his prior mistake of inaction and to fight Voldemort from the start.

So in summery, It was part of the way JKR viewed Dumbledore and understood him. I don't think it was something that would have come out voluntarily--more likely something that would have made a scholarly article 50 or 60 years from now after she was gone and literary scholar had access to her full notes (assuming she left them to be investigated).

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 3

1. No you did not miss it - because it was never mentioned very outrightly. Like most of Rowling's work, there's just reading between the lines - like how Harry started to like Ginny since book 2, but it took him 3 years to figure that out.

2. Of course, it's no big deal. It's in keeping with the progressive and accepting tone of the series.

Answer 4

1. it wasn't in the book--we know it's true because JKR said so. She knows her characters better than we do, she just knows that not everything is relevant to the story.
2. It's not a big deal to me. It's just who he is. What's interesting is that everyone assumed he's straight, like if you're gay you have to walk around with a sign or something saying it. does it realy change anything?

Answer 5

Dumbledore is a fictional character. The author can make him gay, or not, it all depends on the writer. Either way I don't care - the books are "brilliant" and the movies grand.

Answer 6

there is nothing wrong with him being gay. i dont know why peoiple are making such a big issue out of nothing. there are way to many homophobes who should get used to gays being in the world. besides i like the way how jkr adds more diversity.

Answer 7

It doesn't matter if Dumbledore was gay, straight, bi, transgender, or whatever. He was a good guy, a great wizard/warlock, and an amazing character.

Answer 8

i dont remember reading him as gay either,what is everyone talkin bout?

Answer 9

she said he was gay sometime idk when... i cannot stand it i swear it has been bugging me so badlyyy