J.K. Rowling's Revelation?

Question

For all the HP fans there, what is your reaction now that J.K. revealed that Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is gay and fell in love with Grindelwald?

Me I was shocked, totally. I can't believe that the Prof. that i idolized is gay. So you, what's your reaction/opinion? :p

yes, i really agree. Dumbledore is still Dumbledore no matter what his gender is. he's still a person i can idolize. :p

Answer 1

J. K. Rowling made Dumbledore gay for one reason: For her own personal agenda.

Because the spotlight on HP had dimmed, she had to find a way to brighten it. And what better way to do this than by outing the beloved headmaster of Hogwarts.

Once every one started talking about the series again, then J. K. Rowling could announce her real agenda. She recently said that she will auctioning off her personal copy of her book called "The Beetle and the Bard" for charity. But I'm sure she will be getting a percentage of the proceeds.

And that's the real reason she outed Dumbledore. To push her personal agenda. The hypocritical git!

Answer 2

It didn't really bother me one way or another. I am a bit bemused at some of the things that others have said about it, and JKR's alleged motivations.

I don't think that JKR has an agenda, or is seeking more publicity. I think it speaks to the popularity of the series and the amount of emotional energy that fans have put into the books, that it became a big story.

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

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/10...

Answer 3

I couldn't care less. He is no less Dumbledore just because he was gay. Being gay does not define who you are, it's just one aspect of your personality. And it makes sense that Albus was in love with Grindelwald because otherwise, Albus never would have been so blind to Grindelwald's faults and evil ambitions.

Answer 4

Well, I was shocked to hear that he was gay...however it was not for the news sake, it was because I was shocked that there is no clue in the books about him being even remotely gay. I have all the books, and I read them a couple of times, and I see nothing in there that points to him being gay. The friendship with him and Grindewald was described as a friendship that two ordinary non-gay guys could have. I mean, today there are guys that are best friends, go on trips together, start businesses together, go to parties together, get into fights, then become friends again. That does not mean that they are gay. Guys love each other and respect each other in non-gay ways.

So, that was it really, I was shocked to hear her say that Dumbledore is gay with a tone that suggested she was a little confusedlike "didnt we already know that?"

I mean people, if you think about it, she could have just made that "fact" up about Dumbledore to bring more attention to the books. She could have just been like, "hmmmm yes, Dumbledore is gay" to make readers be surprised and to become more curious. Maybe she wanted to lure lesbians and gay readers that originally were not interested in her books, to read it because it somehow shows support for them now. You get it?

Answer 5

I'm happy for Dumbledore. And Grindelwald. Does this somehow change what you've already read about him? Mind in the gutter...
Maybe perverse folk are now going to circulate "D & G zines" like the "K & S (Kirk & Spock) zines" from trekkies.

Answer 6

I still like Professor Dumbledore. There is nothing wrong with being a gay so I don't think that it should be a big issue. Just look at all the great things that he did and not just that fact. Everyone has their imperfections, right?

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure most people have discussed this quite enough already, but I'll answer...

I think it's kinda cool, at least as far as LGBT rights and equality go, to have a character in an insanely popular series of books be gay. As for being shocked- no, I hadn't suspected it, but I wasn't shocked either. Sexual orientation is not a defining trait of someone, just one aspect of who they are. Just because this character is gay doesn't mean you have to stop idolizing him or something.

Answer 8

His sexual orientation should have nothing to do with your opinion of the man. A person is defined by what they do and the way that they treat other people - it has nothing to do with who they choose to love. Dumbledore will hopefully still be a hero to the millions of people who have read the series, and I hope that you can see past what is quite frankly a biggoted opinion to realise that he still is a hero and that he deserves to be respected - even if he is "only" a character in a childrens series.

Answer 9

it doesn't matter now that the book has been published j.k. Rowlings so called "revelation" is just another theory.
the book she published is yours to interpret, you decide whether or not he's gay not rowling if rowling wanted him gay she should have written that in the book but since she didn't he isn't unless that's the way you think he is

Answer 10

It made perfect sense for Dumbledore's motivation but I was suprised that JKR would tell the public.