I think that these negative reactions are the definition of hypocritical homophobia crap. The character's sexual orientation had no real bearing on the stories, and people loved them without knowing. Now that they know, it tarnishes? Give me a break.

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Why did she even make this an issue? The series is over and those of you who even cared to read the books knows what happened in the sixth . . . .

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Regardless of what genre, book or series involved, I think it is wrong for an author to divulge such things about their characters. I think it best to let the reader's decide for themselves. Such "what ifs" create discussion and fervor for years to come. Rowling just wants to create some controversy about the Potter books now that they're over. Seems wrong to me.

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I don't like it. It just comes across as a cheap publicity stunt. Sort of like when Michael Stipe (sp?) announced that he was gay just before the release of an REM album a few years ago. The fat that he's gay at all sort of feels contrived anyway.

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this is not homophobia: but i think its lame.

you see, in my mind making him gay is an easy literary device. The relationship between Dumbledore and that other guy (I can't remember his name) was a very complex one. Dumbledore obviously respected him and was in awe of his abilities. However, later he had to come after him and take him out because the guy had gone bad. That's like Luke having to go after bad Yoda or something. Its a complex relationship, since D obviously had much respect and deference to this guy. Its kinda like 'you can't go home'

However to relegate this complex relationship to a simple love story makes, in my opinion, the story much weaker overall. It makes Dumbledore much less of the wizard who could always think coolly and find the most logical and best solution to a matter and makes him a scorned lover... totally different dynamic.

I think she should have left well enough alone. I still love the books, but i really think JK took a HUGE misstep in even bringing this up.

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I am pretty sick of this in your face homosexuality. Does every freaking show have to fag out on us, honestly? It's their choice and I respect that. I don't agree with it, but it's on them, not me. But I do NOT want to have it thrown in my face every second of every day. Sexual orientation doesn't have anything to do with the story, Norv, so why was it even mentioned? The author is probably missing the limelight due to no more books coming. Office visits for Harry will never seem the same again...

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Dory,
sorry to say, but you're post is about the biggest load of PC junk i've ever heard.



then why did JK Rowling bring it up at all? Too often authors and ESPECIALLY movie and tv writers use these ham-handed techniques and won't let their audience decide things on their own. I feel LOST will go down that road (the road of feeling the need to explain EVERY minute detail and leave nothing for the imagination)

also, fyi, being in disagreement with her decision in not necessarily homophobic.

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Regardless of my viewpoint on sexuality, I find that unnecessarily exposing such a wonderful work to a 'hot-button' and politically charged issue is short sighted. I do not see what positive (or neutral) affect this could have on the series. I understand that 'revealing' this information could be seen as a refreshing openness and tolerant/supportive standpoint from the author. I feel that the 'revelation' will turn the Harry Potter series into a pawn. To be blunt, there is a part of me that doesn't want to post this for fear of further escalating an issue that has already received too much press. The fact this is a lead story across the board in the news / media outlets is comical and sad. The sexuality of a fictional character in a series of books set in a world outside the physical bounds of our own... When you take a step back and examine the world around you, I guess it is sometimes easier to live in the surreal.

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Just to clarify, disagreeing with homosexuality and saying I'm sick of it doesn't make me homophobic. That's just a cheap ass counter to people's disdain for the lifestyle. So, don't bother making that argument with me.

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So what if he's gay, does it take anything away from the character? NO. The lives of the characters that were important to the story were told, JK answered a question, which to my knowledge, she hadn't been asked before in that arena so why shouldn't she answer it. This BS about it's wrong now is crap, if she didn't want to answer she didn't have to & frankly that would have been worse because she would have been bowing to some of the idiots who have commented on this story.

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Why do people keep saying JK brought this up? I thought she was asked a question and answered it. If her answer had of been Dumbledore always loved Minerva (?sp) would anyone be complaining?

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Wow, a publicity stunt, huh? She responded to a question with honesty, she didn't call a press meeting.

She lived with these characters for two decades, of couse she'd know whether or not Dumbledore was gay; anyone who's ever done serious writing and character development will tell you that you KNOW your characters, you LIVE with them.

If the fact that he's gay angers you, you don't have to neccessarily be a homophobe, but you're clearly a moron. I'll let you in on something else weird about him...

HE WAS ALSO A FREAKING WIZARD!

You peope need to get a grip. This is a book where people jump into fireplaces to commute. And you think a secretly gay old man is going to damage your child's development? If he/she was smart enough to not try jumping into a fireplace after reading the books, they can probably grasp the concept of fiction a little better than yourself.

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Dan L,
the flu network is for working stiffs like the Weasleys.
I ALWAYS use disapparition to get where i need to go...

=)

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It doesn't make any difference...authorial intent is dead, so it doesn't matter what JK Rowling had in her head about the character, or what she says about the character in interviews or talks. It ONLY matters what she put in the books, and his sexuality isn't an issue in the books. At this point, she has no more "inside information" than anybody else--she's only one more reader of her own books. I don't get why everyone's so worked up about this. The books haven't changed, and her statements outside the books are no more than her opinion.

JK Rowling, meet literary theory.

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Just to clarify, disagreeing with heterosexuality and saying I'm sick of it doesn't make me heterophobic. That's just a cheap ass counter to people's disdain for the lifestyle. So, don't bother making that argument with me.

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I love how people keep saying she did this for the limelight. She was asked a question and she answered it. Plus she is the author of the books. Yes, once the works are published people can interpret the stories any which way they want. But a lot of people still value the thought processes and backstories that are inside the author's mind.

Anyway, I do admire her gumption for doing this. She must know that this will fuel the fire of those against homosexuality (and sadly that's still a lot of people) and may hurt the "bottom line" of her future movies and her future books. Of course she doesn't need the money, so all the more power to her for doing this.

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does having gay people in the world tarnish it? what about having black characters, asian characters, short characters, or fat characters? diversifying seems okay. my advice would be to get over it.

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Dumbledore being gay changes nothing about the books. It's not like he went around hitting on Snape or Flitwick or Hagrid in the books. This shouldn't be a controversial issue. It changes nothing about the iconic character that we have all grown up loving.

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While I feel that J.K's need to "out" a character in a series of books now finished is a simple cop out to garner attention for herself now that she is no longer relevant I am fairly astounded by peoples reactions to the revelation and not the revealer.
Who cares if Dumbledore is gay, it makes no difference to the story line or anything else for that matter. For people to say that it changes their opinion or that they wouldn't have let their child read it had they known is the most ignorant and biggoted thing I can think of. So now I throw the race card, what if she had said he was black? would it still be okay for people to throw around derogatory terms (I'm looking at you Yates) or to say they wouldn't have let their children read it had they known?
Also to say the homosexuality is thrown in our faces is just a stupid and ill informed comment. It's not thrown in our faces any more than heterosexuality, but because people are so hateful and intolerant it's some kind of issue. How many straight couples do you see kiss on television in any given day? Depending on the number of hours of TV you watch, maybe dozens, however one gay couple kisses and suddenly you're outraged.

Finally I would like to say to Yates, If you are so respectful of the Gay culture and their rights you would never throw around the word f@g so casually, unless you are also the type of person who would use the word n!gger, at which point anything you ever say becomes completely irrelevant.

For those who would like to try and judge me, know that I am white, straight and far more enlightened than you, but feel free to show me your ignorance.

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the amount of homophobia on here is simply staggering. Yeah I am politically correct, that's not a negative you bloody fools, that just means I choose my words carefully so as not to be homophobic!!! It's brilliant that Dumbledore's gay, obviously it doesn't affect the character but it's simply another high profile individual, fictional or not, who is out. The more the better, yeah it should be shoved in your face and if it makes you uncomfortable then that's either your homophobia or your intolerance speaking. Better it makes some people uncomfortable, whilst others ofen struggling with their own sexuality are overjoyed that it's not a weird condition or anything to be ashamed of, the freakin' coolest wizard ever was gay!!

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