Dumbledore kerfluffle

[sparkindarkness]

Dumbledore’s gay. It amuses me muchly, especially since I imagine there are many ultra-religious righties who were already burning the books for witchcraft have now just spontaneously combusted with outrage (and that’s always funny, you have to agree).

Is it a big step forward for gays everywhere? Well, millions of people are apparently reading books with a central gay character, but wouldn’t know about it unless the hear of Rowling’s revelation. Still, it’s a lot of exposure there. Personally, I think it can only be a good thing and certainly does no harm :) When it comes down to it, it's a character. he happens to be gay, there's no need to read anything more into it than that

People have bitched about why he didn’t reveal this in the books. Well, let’s take a step back and look at the books shall we. They’re about Harry Potter (hence the titles) a boy from the age of, what, 10-18? And his battle against Voldemort. The books are written nearly entirely from Harry’s point of view to my memory, less than, what, 5% of the book isn’t from his view point and they usually involve death eaters.

Right, now remember when you were between the ages of 11-18 and your relationship with your teachers. At which point did your headmaster avow his love for cock or pussy to you? What? You mean you headmaster didn’t discuss his love life with you? Damn, how heartless!

I didn’t know if any of my teachers were gay, straight, bi, single, coupled or in happy polygamous groups. The only clue I ever had was some of the women had “mrs” in front of the names. I didn’t even know the first names of some of my teachers. They could have been gay. They could have been straight. They could have been bi. They could have been sexing up their neighbour’s Rotweiler. I don’t think I’m unusual on that score, teachers are usually rather reticent in discussing their sex lives with their pupils, well, except for in one or two rather sensational cases.

So at which point in teaching Harry, advising Harry, guiding Harry and otherwise fighting the evil of Voldemort should Dumbledore have turned round and said “Did I ever mention how much I love hawt mansex?” At which exact point in the books would it have been appropriate, believable or realistic for Albus Dumbledore to explain his sexuality to his student?


(And to everyone saying she just added this after the series finished... well, point 1: You did read Deathly Hollows, right? Because, y'know Dumbledore/Grindelwald? Written in pretty LARGE print, really. Point 2: she said she had to tell a screenwriter that when he had dumbledore mention a past female love - don't you think he'd come forwards and sday "bitch please, that never happened?")


ETA:
Oh and can we have a big WTF to all those who are saying this is some kind of political statement? Hello, various studies have concluded that homosexuals make up between 3%-10% of the population (depending on study - the closet makes it hide to track us) yet the mere EXISTANCE of a gay character is a political statement? That's ridiculous! That's like saying the ethnic diversity shown throughout the Harry Potter novels was a political statement. Acknowledging people exist isn't political correctness or agenda driven or any other stupid clap trap they're spouting. It's simpel acknowledgement of the diversity of the human race.

Comments

[stormcat.livejournal.com]

THANK you.

Of course, you KNOW some complete morons are going to decide that this is the REAL reason Dumbledore was fond of Harry. Couldn't be anything as simple as being a mentor, guardian and friend to a child in deep, deep trouble not of his own making.

(Why yes, I have already heard that theory. I gave the speaker a Blank Stare of the "Aaaannnnndddd your crack dealer operates out of where again?" variety.)

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I have already seen one comment of how the books are ruined because the reader will always picture Dumbledore perving over Harry, Ron et al. No, just NO.

[dontkickmycane.livejournal.com]

Well of COURSE! because everyone knows being gay is practically the same thing as being attracted to little boys. /sarcasm.

I too have heard that asinine theory. And I want off the crack train.

I think Mercedes Lackey beat that horse to death already. Maybe that's another reason jKR decided not to bring it up. Besides the very obvious reason, as Sparky pointed out, it just really doesn't matter, and isn't something a teenage boy would even notice unless maybe he was struggling with his own identity issues, and then the story would be about something else completely and we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

[polarbee.livejournal.com]

But it's totally obvious that being gay means you like little boys! Everybody knows that!

Good grief.

I totally agree with you. At that age, the sexuality of one's teachers hardly crosses one's mind. Nor do you really want it to, in all honesty.
And if I were a teacher, I certainly wouldn't care to discuss my sex life with my students. It's inappropriate, none of their business, and just plain wrong.

[touchstone.livejournal.com]

Hello, various studies have concluded that homosexuals make up between 3%-10% of the population

And somewhat higher in academia :)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, and when he was straight everybody thought about him perving over Hermione. *rolls eyes*

[amynnah.livejournal.com]

I still love Vanyel. <3

[amynnah.livejournal.com]

Oh Spark... I was just itching for your response to Harry Huey and the Dumbledore Kablooey. <3 You never fail to disappoint.

Students don't usually try to delve into their teachers' personal lives (teacher/student relationships notwithstanding, but that's a whole other can of suck)... it's just not something that's thought about. Personally, Dumbledore always struck me as a gentle, caring man, and he reminded me a lot of Gandalf from LotR (and not the movies). :)

[klgaffney.livejournal.com]

yeeeah, and also, she obviously did this just to get attention. *rolls eyes* and any other author that points out gays in their books are just "hopping on the bandwagon." i generally chalked this entire mess up as 85% of humanity is on the worst sort of crack. it's completely absurd.

[dontkickmycane.livejournal.com]

Me too. I just thought she belaboured the point a little too much. Vanyel will always be one of my favorite heroes. But it's a well known fact I'm an angst junkie, so how could I not like the poor boy?

[(Anonymous)]

To be fair, Van's issue with whats-his-name was only 'cause he looked like 'Lendel... And Stefen was an adult... :) Just young-looking to Van 'cause of the age gap...

[xarra.livejournal.com]

To be fair, Van's issue with whats-his-name was only 'cause he looked like 'Lendel... And Stefen was an adult... :) Just young-looking to Van 'cause of the age gap...

[tanarill.livejournal.com]

This is a good point. It's so good, in fact, that Neil Gaiman wrote a comprehensive post on the subject. What it comes down to is this:

In any writing, there's lots and lots that never makes it to the paper. When and if the author decides to tell you those things is their choice. The extra information might be what the character's favorite color is, or what their sexual orientation is. If it wasn't on paper, it probably didn't matter to the story, or mattered more than you had to learn it yourself.

The only reason these people are upset is because of homophobia. If JKR had come out and said that, actually, Dumbledore had an illegitimate child with McGonnagal, you'd have people screaming bloody murder because of children resulting from extramarital sex. It's not like you can escape the idiocy. I respect her for standing up to it instead of letting the stupi ones ruin it for the rest of us.

And really, if the fact that Dumblebore was gay makes it impossible to enjoy the books, than you don't have to read them. You're not being forced to. Just stop complaining to us that your narrow-mindedness is ruining it for you. It's not our fault, it's yours.

[ladydyani.livejournal.com]

It's marketing.

Everyone who's interested in the books has already bought them. Are there any Harry Potter fans that haven't bought Deathly Hallows yet? So who's gonna buy the books now?

Tons of religious righties will end up buying the books to look for the gay agenda. Picture some preachers reading the books on a Saturday night while writing their sermons. Amusing, no? Think of the chick tracts they'll come up with! Homosexuality and witchcraft covered in one little book!

Others will buy the books because they see buying books that have a gay character as being supportive. Or just trendy. Sorry to say so, but a lot of people think supporting alternate lifestyles (is being gay still considered that?) is a trendy thing to do.

JK is a marketing genius.

[mauracelt.livejournal.com]

He's gay? Really? I haven't read the whole series yet, so I didn't know. I only got to the sixth book, I think. Or is that all that's out right now, only six? When did Rowling do the release for this, just curious. I think it's great that she did it, trust me, it's time someone was brave enough to allow one of the main characters in a book to be gay and Not all up in people's faces about it.

[klgaffney.livejournal.com]

eh, actually a significant amount wait until christmas, and another significant amount buy the box sets, at least, that's what i noticed when i had to stock the series. there's always people that want to wait 'til a series is ended before they'll pick it up. i mean, i didn't bother with the series at all until book 5, and i still haven't gotten around to reading it.

Sorry to say so, but a lot of people think supporting alternate lifestyles (is being gay still considered that?) is a trendy thing to do.

sure, for adults, but the vast majority in this country are still pretty damn flaky about homosexuality when it comes to their kid's reading material. basically it came down to some kid in a q&a session asking about dumbledore's love life, and her explaining who it was, and explaining that she did at one point have to correct the movie director. i don't think she had any ulterior motives here--it was the news media that picked it up and ran, because omg, a gay character in a children's series! how shocking! of course they're going to take advantage of the free press, but as a marketing ploy, this would have been VERY risky one.

[klgaffney.livejournal.com]

argh. orphaned tag. my apologies.

[wonapalei.livejournal.com]

Acknowledging people exist isn't political correctness or agenda driven or any other stupid clap trap they're spouting.

SO. GODDAMN. TRUE. It's called being fucking realistic, people. I'm seriously pissed off by both sides here. I expected the usual fundie idiocy, but I was blindsided by the sudden vitriolic attacks from the left, screaming that the bitch should have had the balls to put it in the book, not "announce" it afterwards. Christ on the cross. She didn't "announce" it; she answered a question, one of many that she has similarly been asked and answered in the past and no doubt will continue to do so.

It had no place in the book, except insofar as it was hinted at, and considering how my flist exploded with "OMG did you see the Dumbledore/Grindelwald it was everywhere" after the seventh book, that's some pretty damn texty subtext there. I didn't see any gossip about the school slut being banged by the entire Hufflepuff Quidditch team, either, and for the same reason: it's not fucking relevant. All that we needed to know was that Dumbledore was completely blinded by Grindelwald's brilliance until it was too late. That it was partly sexual attraction was irrelevant and would have been rather difficult to shoehorn in, since we'd have to see Harry's reaction to that bit of news and probably get bogged down.

Grrr.

[thisdaydreamer.livejournal.com]

I know that two of my high school teachers are a couple, and probably were when I was in school, but I had no idea until I saw them shopping together in the bookstore several times. For the record, Miss H and Miss M make a cute couple.

I think JKR could have had Dumbledore mention his feelings for Grindewald in that afterlife scene. I am still disappointed she didn't bring it up in the books because she passed up a great opportunity. As you pointed out, kids have no idea whether most of the adults in their lives are straight or gay, and that leaves them with very few openly gay role models in their lives. Dumbledore is fictional, but he is someone that kids know and trust.

[thisdaydreamer.livejournal.com]

Luckily, all I have seen of that theory is from people calling it idiotic. I am sure, however, that a customer will spill that nonsense on me very soon. I have certainly heard about how the books promote Wicca and Satanism, much to my pagan heart's bitter amusement.

[thisdaydreamer.livejournal.com]

Actually, there are a lot of fans who have started late on the series. I see people buying earlier volumes all the time, and book seven is still ranked 53 on bn.com.

[thisdaydreamer.livejournal.com]

It's never stated in any of the books. JKR just outed him in a question/answer session with some young fans.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Exactly! It's conventional wisdom wherever these loonies gather

Exactly, teachers don't have sex. Ever. That would be WRONG. I mean some of them are like, so OOOOLD and it'd be NASTY.

[mauracelt.livejournal.com]

Wow! Wonder how that went over, what with all the folks using Harry as an example and Dumbledor as his primary mentor. :/ Me personally, I still think it's great, but then there are all those other people out there just looking for trouble to cause, ya know what I mean?

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

There are people who can read sexual subtext into sharing the same room for more than 3 seconds. It amazes me. I think they need to get laid