Explain why Dumbledore is gay?

Question

I don't understand! why is everyone thinking dumbledore is gay? i would like proof and actual text from book before i understand this odd statement. 10 points to most persuasive reasoning.

Answer 1

If you are seeking proof from the text you won't find any statement that rings out, "I, Albus Dumbledore, is gay".

Throughout books 1-7, and more in books 5-7 JK Rowling may have written very slight, subtle clues to make the reader think about Dumbledore's secretive past and childhood. It was not until book 7 that the reader REALLY learns about his boyhood/young adulthood. It makes you wonder why Dumbledore never settled down and got married.

I'm sorry, you just won't find documented proof in any of the books. You'll just have to take the author's word on it!

Answer 2

I pretty much agree with you. Rowling said a few days ago that he's gay, and it seems she has viewed him that way for a while. She also implied that the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindenwald, which is important in the last book, was a romantic relationship, so it does come out as relevant to the story.

Still, it's hard to say what, if anything, this means. Dumbledore's not a real person, and he isn't explicitly described as gay in the books. Grindenwlald is described as charismatic, so you don't need the erotic factor to explain that relationship, although it may explain Grindenwald's decision to give Dumbledore the Elder Wand (insert phallic joke here). So I'm not sure in what sense, if any, he's actually gay.

Answer 3

I have cut and pasted below a portion of my response to a similar question asked elsewhere on yahoo answers:
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Unless you've written novels or been seriously involved in theater, you might not be aware of the idea of "subtext." In a nutshell, part of the creative process is to flesh out the identities of the character or characters you are trying to portray, to an extent well beyond what appears explicitly in the finished product.

I'm sure that JK Rowling has files and files of biographies of all the major characters in her books. She could probably tell you about each of their childhoods and early lives. Many would say that an author "discovers", rather than invents, these things about the characters he or she creates. In other words, the character takes on a life of his or her own. Most of this subtext will never appear explicitly in the actual book or books, but it is always in the author's mind and it helps guide the author in his or her portrayal and development of the characters.

Anyone who has done any acting will probably be able to recall the director encouraging you to think about your character, to ask yourself what his or her life is about, what he or she does when not appearing in the scenes of the play.If you have engaged in this exercise, then you have some idea of what authors do with the characters they create.

I have no doubt that JK Rowling came to the conclusion that Dumbledore is gay a long time ago. It only came out now because at a public speaking appearance the other day,someone explictly asked her about Dumbledore's love life.

Answer 4

Everyone is making a big deal out of this, I find it refreshing.
I would put in more work to get those 10 points but I dont think its that important. The author herself said he was gay, and there is no solid fact within the books that state "hey Dumbledore is gay" The only thing you have to go on is the fact that he had a special relationship with the wizard Grindewald.(see book 7)
There was never mention of a woman in his life, he has no children(except his students) and he is a bit eccentric.

Do a search on any big news website (FOX,BBC,CNN or AP) and you will see that the author herself told a room full of people and cameras that he was gay.

Dumbledore is her character, and if she wants him to be gay, then by god hes gay.

Answer 5

Why is Dumbledore gay? Because J.K. Rowling the author and creator of all the Harry Potter characters categorically stated at a meeting last Friday at Carnegie Hall that Dumbledore was gay.

Like it or not Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a homosexual; and everything that goes with homosexuality in a school.

Answer 6

The only "proof" that Dumbledor is gay is that the author Rowling said so. Nowhere in the books is it published, so I do not consider it part of the canon. I think Rowling is just having fun now that the series is done and she can say anything she wants.

Answer 7

From the official "Leaky Cauldron" transcript of the q&a with JKR at Carnegie Hall:

"Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself?

My truthful answer to you... I always thought of Dumbledore as gay. [ovation.] ... Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was. To an extent, do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extent? But, he met someone as brilliant as he was, and rather like Bellatrix he was very drawn to this brilliant person, and horribly, terribly let down by him. Yeah, that's how i always saw Dumbledore. In fact, recently I was in a script read through for the sixth film, and they had Dumbledore saying a line to Harry early in the script saying I knew a girl once, whose hair... [laughter]. I had to write a little note in the margin and slide it along to the scriptwriter, "Dumbledore's gay!" [laughter] If I'd known it would make you so happy, I would have announced it years ago! "

Answer 8

JK Rowling invented Dumbledore and his life, which means it's true. (She said so herself).
Just because there is no specific textual evidence doesn't mean it's not true. I'm sure JKR knows the names of Ron's grandparents (example) but they weren't all included. She knows way more about her characters than we do, she probably just felt his sexuality wasn't relevant to the story. The story is about Harry and Voldemort.

Answer 9

there is no proof but j.k rowling sed he was. i personally think that dumbledore isnt gay. but he is her character so if she sez he is then he must be. i think she is doing it to stay in the public eye because she has finished all the books and she has made gazillions of pounds on it she wants more attention.
but there is no proof to say that he is gay.
do u think hes gay? i used to think snape woz gay until i read the last book...

Answer 10

good point s_librar about Grindelwald that explains why he didn't see the bad in him in the beginning
also when dumbledore kept on talking about love how strong it is and you never see him having any girlfriend