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Albus Dumbledore is gay

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Albus Dumbledore is gay

posted at 10/22/2007 12:25 PM EDT

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AlexRemington

First post: 5/24/2007
Last post: 8/4/2009
Total posts: 1566

At a Q&A on Friday, author J.K. Rowling revealed that Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter series, is gay. It came as a shock to me, because virtually no adult in the series seems to have any sexuality. Though the outing was off-the-cuff, he is immediately one of the most famous gay men in the world, and already one of its most respected educators.

After hearing about this, a friend of mine suggested to me that reactions to this may depend on whether or not parents feel comfortable with their children being taught, and mentored, by a gay man. How do you feel about that? Does this change the way you feel about the books, or affect whether you'd read them to your children? What is the best way to handle sexuality in libraries and schools?

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Re: Albus Dumbledore is gay

posted at 10/22/2007 12:33 PM EDT

seanomore1

First post: 10/7/2007
Last post: 3/28/2008
Total posts: 1070

Replying to:

Should be good for another million for J.K. Rowling, as all decent folks line up to buy a copy of Harry Potter to burn.

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Re: Albus Dumbledore is gay

posted at 10/22/2007 12:54 PM EDT

chasart

First post: 8/16/2007
Last post: 8/27/2008
Total posts: 6358

Replying to:

Should be good for another million for J.K. Rowling, as all decent folks line up to buy a copy of Harry Potter to burn. Posted by seanomore1

LOL

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He's also a wizard, so...

posted at 10/22/2007 1:06 PM EDT

financepirate

First post: 10/22/2007
Last post: 11/6/2009
Total posts: 9

The only people for whom this would create a negative impression of the books are the same morons who were burning it already for "promoting witchcraft" or whatever nonsense the "family values" types spew these days.

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OK, so I checked

posted at 10/22/2007 1:13 PM EDT

martimr1

First post: 5/25/2007
Last post: 7/8/2009
Total posts: 26

I actually re-read some Potter excerpts this weekend after reading about Rowling's quote. I wanted to see whether to take Rowling seriously or if she was just tossing off a publicity line. I concluded the former: many of Prof. D's more puzzing mistakes, including his infatuation with a proto-dark wizard but also including his reluctance and indecision in communicating with Harry, are much more believable if we postulate a sexuality for Dumbledore.

As for whether a parent should feel comfortable having children mentored by a gay man, whyever not? Is such a man any more dangerous to boys than heterosexual male teachers are to girls? I think not. The real problem is the number of adults who are not comfortable with the idea that children and educators DO have sexualities, and that part of growing up is learning to live with, channel, and control impulses that are part of life but not to be given free exercise in all aspects of life.

One of the best teachers I ever had was removed from my high school, over vociferous protests from his students, because other teachers and parents were uncomfortable with his sexuality. It's been decades, but, Mr. Allen, if you're still alive, we remember you: the Iconoclastic Pedagogue.

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Non issue.

posted at 10/22/2007 1:13 PM EDT

EquesdeVeritas

First post: 9/7/2007
Last post: 11/19/2007
Total posts: 8

Honestly, there is zero reference to adult sexuality in the books.

There is no reference in the series to Dumbledore as a sexual being whatsoever.

Praise is due Rowling for her decision to admit the character's sexuality but honestly it has no impact on the content of the books for a reader.

The effect of this revelation is merely in hindsight for those that have read it or to literary critics or academics trying to fully understand the characters.

Sincerely, if Rowling had never said this or if a parent decided not to dicsuss it then it would be a non-issue insofar as the books are concerned.

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Re: Albus Dumbledore is gay

posted at 10/22/2007 1:25 PM EDT

lartfromabove

First post: 8/27/2007
Last post: 4/29/2009
Total posts: 41

The hardcore so-called Christians were already up in arms about the Hogwartians using witchcraft. One supposes this won't have much impact, as the political demographic of pro-wicca homophobes is probably fairly small.

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Sex Sells

posted at 10/22/2007 1:35 PM EDT

am214t

First post: 8/8/2007
Last post: 7/1/2009
Total posts: 1944

As some of those on this forum who have apparently read the Harry Potter books can detect no references to adult sexuality, it would seem that Ms. Rowling is not only a great writer of children's fiction but a first rate sales promoter.

Is there any possiblitity that she will next rreveal that Harry is secretly having an affair with one of the female characters in the book, and Albus Dumbledore is latently insanely jealous?

It does get juicier and juicier as sales climb!

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Is Dumbledore gay?

posted at 10/22/2007 1:36 PM EDT

MTgrassland

First post: 5/30/2007
Last post: 10/1/2009
Total posts: 449

His gayness or not is just conjecture whether by his creator or anyone else if it is not evident by his actions. Otherwise, it is just an unsubstantiated accusation and legitimately defensible unless caught tapdancing with a wide stance as in the case of Sen. Craig.

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Between the lines

posted at 10/22/2007 1:41 PM EDT

dbitt

First post: 5/25/2007
Last post: 7/29/2009
Total posts: 27

"Deathly Hallows" has quite a bit about Dumbledore and his 'friendship' with a young wizard. Reading between the lines, in terms of how they are extremely close and then have a violent falling-out, it reads as though Rowling intended readers to be able to figure it out for themselves.

As noted above, the Harry Potter books are not saturated with sexual content by any means but they also don't shy away from key issues of relationships, young love and so on. It doesn't invalidate any of Dumbledore's mentoring of Harry, nor does it lessen him as a character so much as add dimensions few readers might guess were there. Will it make some uncomfortable? Sure, but I'd guess they're the ones who already hate magic (in other words, nobody who's likely to buy her books anyway-- so why should she care?).

I would disagree with MT above; Rowling's word is not conjecture, since she created the character and presumably knows his orientation. Whether she put any evidence there is unimportant and even beside the point. If she says it, that's how it is.

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Re: Is Dumbledore gay?

posted at 10/22/2007 1:45 PM EDT

anthonydauer

First post: 10/22/2007
Last post: 10/22/2007
Total posts: 1

Replying to:

This is completely ridiculous. An author says their character is gay, they're gay. Doesn't matter how far on the down low they are.

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Assumption

posted at 10/22/2007 1:47 PM EDT

MozzMan

First post: 9/28/2007
Last post: 5/12/2008
Total posts: 43

Why are we all assuming that Dumbledore acted on his gay urges? He could have been gay and celibate?

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Re: Albus Dumbledore is gay

posted at 10/22/2007 1:48 PM EDT

john_g

First post: 10/22/2007
Last post: 10/22/2007
Total posts: 1

Replying to:

Though the outing was off-the-cuff, he is immediately one of the most famous gay men in the world, and already one of its most respected educators. Posted by AlexRemington

I hate to rain on your parade, but Dumbledore is not a gay man - he is a gay fictional character as imagined by J.K. Rowling. This does not make any of the implications of the preceeding discussion about being taught by gay people, or the reactions of the family values crowd any less valid.

I do think it was an off-the-cuff remark. If Ms. Rowling had wanted to make an issue out of it, the Ministry of Magic would have been all over it. If anything, Ms. Rowling should be commended for giving us a character who happened to be gay, but whose values and actions were not overtly defined by his sexuality. Right and wrong are universal constants in the Potter series, and I think Dumbledore as well as all the other characters were motivated by values rather than sexuality.

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no adult sexuality?

posted at 10/22/2007 1:49 PM EDT

allenmcbride

First post: 10/22/2007
Last post: 10/23/2007
Total posts: 2

No adult sexuality? Lupin and Tonks, Molly and Arthur, Hagrid and Maxime, Bellatrix and Voldemort?

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Re: Assumption

posted at 10/22/2007 1:50 PM EDT

am214t

First post: 8/8/2007
Last post: 7/1/2009
Total posts: 1944

Replying to:

Why are we all assuming that Dumbledore acted on his gay urges? He could have been gay and celibate? Posted by MozzMan

Are you suggesting that Dumbledore is secretly a member of the Catholic clergy?

What would that do to sales?

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Are you Nuts?

posted at 10/22/2007 1:50 PM EDT

setekh

First post: 5/26/2007
Last post: 11/7/2007
Total posts: 46

Replying to:

Is this supposed to be a joke? You are talking about this character as if he were a real person rather than a piece of fiction. How can parents feel anything about having their children taught by someone who doesn't exist and never did? It's like saying parents might be afraid to have a copy of 'Lolita' in their home because one of the characters is a pedophile and their children might be in danger from him.

Given all the serious problems our country and the world currently face, surely you can find something more important to discuss than the sexuality of an imaginary person.

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Why?

posted at 10/22/2007 1:53 PM EDT

jks1259

First post: 10/14/2007
Last post: 10/22/2007
Total posts: 8

This is the big secret? This is the big news? After all this time this is the best she could come up with? Frankly, if she said he was an evangelist who voted for Bush it would cause more mayhem.

But,really why policitize the series?

What purpose does it play in closing the series other than to promote controversy. If the characters' sexuality had been an issue throughout that is one thing.

Granted, in most circles it should make no difference. And perhaps for most parents it will not. But, why even make it an issue for the younger readers. Isn't there enough opportunity for them to have the issue of homosexuality explained to them by there parents.

How disappointing.

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Come now

posted at 10/22/2007 1:53 PM EDT

ethanquern

First post: 9/4/2007
Last post: 9/2/2009
Total posts: 30

Methinks this whole thing is a tempest in a very leaky cauldron.

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Re: Assumption

posted at 10/22/2007 2:01 PM EDT

MozzMan

First post: 9/28/2007
Last post: 5/12/2008
Total posts: 43

Replying to:

Are you suggesting that Dumbledore is secretly a member of the Catholic clergy?

What would that do to sales? Posted by am214t

Soooo, you are suggesting that the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church is due to homosexual priests...perhaps true if not politically correct...

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Why are you surprised?

posted at 10/22/2007 2:12 PM EDT

qqbDEyZW

First post: 9/24/2007
Last post: 11/25/2009
Total posts: 33

We see gay closet Law Makers everyday. Harry had no problem with the Head Master and none of the other kids did. Not every gay person is like American Law Makers who like Fingers Foley attack kids. The question from book one from those who read the book is why the Head Master worked so well with female teachers but had no wife or love interest. Now Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldermort could have been another gay but he was to busy hating people to have feelings. JK Rowlings allow her readers to love a person for the love they gave and didn't judge them by their life choice. To mad American writers and other adults can't do the same.

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