Happy Potter readers?

Question

Did you know, BEFORE Jo Rowling anounced it, that Albus Dumbledore was gay? Do you think there are any significant hints in the books?

Answer 1

not really...........

Answer 2

There were no signs, no matter what she says.

Some say that Dumbledore loved wearing loud-colored robes. Well if Rowling used this to show that Dumbledore is gay, how stereotypical of her to assume that gay people like wearing loud colors and "flaming" clothes.

Some point out that his talking so passionate of Grindelwald were signs. NOT. It simply sounded like Dumbledore was disappointed in a brother-like friend who let him down.

Some point out that Dumbledore never married. Well, there were a lot of Hogwarts teachers who never married. Does that mean that all of them were gay too?

Some say that he did wear a bonnet on his head in one of the books. Well, he was quite tipsy too.

So for J. K. Rowling to say that there were signs throughout the books is hogwash. Now that she has announced that Dumbledore is gay, one can use any passage in the books and associate with him being a gay man and/or a pedophile.

Answer 3

Not really significant but according to an article in the New York Times Rita Skeeter alluded to a lot of things that would say Dumbledore is gay.
It also talks about his obsession with Grindelwald but I think the bit about the white flag out of the wand is reading into something way too much.

But before she announced he was gay I would have never ever guessed it! I was as surprised as everyone else.

Answer 4

I did not see any hints, just an Idea ( end of post). I am a bit bemused at some of the things that you and 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).

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. I'm not sure it was a significant.

wl

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

Answer 5

No, I don't think anyone did, which is why it upsets me so many people are denouncing the books now. Parents act as though there children are going to be horribly influenced by those books. They are ok with the idea of witches and wizards and an evil snake like figure trying to destroy the world, but God forbid a homosexual get in the mix. That's where they have to draw the line. People need to get a clue.

Answer 6

No. I've read those books a thousand times. There was nothing in the books even relating to Dumbledore's sexuality.

Answer 7

no, i think it was a way for Rowling to get money money..from people buying the books and reading them again.

she probally just said that and has NO hints in the book hes gay. Who knows? Well i dont see it to be a bother, i still love harry potter <33

Answer 8

No I dont' believe so at all.
I think it was never to be found out or deduced had JK rowling not said that.

we all just thought he was a lonely man or too busy to ever like find love.

Answer 9

I had no idea! But really now, in a book like Harry Potter, how could expect something like that? Sex and sexuality wasn't really discussed beyond some grade school necking.

Answer 10

I dont really believe she had that all planned. Some people think she said that cause people as famous as her can say anything and people will go crazy with it and put it all over the news and make a big deal out of it and she just said it to have a laugh and watch the world go crazy about it. I tend to agree with that.

Answer 11

Honestly...I dont think she was fully serious when she said that.

I am all for the gays.

but dumbledore...gay?

Sorry, but no.

She never gave any clues to his sexual prefrence.

And I dont mean to sound rude, but have you ever seen Dumbldore say to a student "Oh dear, yellow just SO isn't your color! Your should have been in slytherin! Green matches those beautiful baby green eyes of yours!!!"