JK Rowling reveals Dumbledore to be gay

[dabom88]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/ap_on_en_ot/books_harry_potter

NEW YORK - Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."

Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

"Oh, my god," Rowling concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction."

Potter readers on fan sites and elsewhere on the Internet have speculated on the sexuality of Dumbledore, noting that he has no close relationship with women and a mysterious, troubled past. And explicit scenes with Dumbledore already have appeared in fan fiction.

Rowling told the audience that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," she spotted a reference in the script to a girl who once was of interest to Dumbledore. A note was duly passed to director David Yates, revealing the truth about her character.

Rowling, finishing a brief "Open Book Tour" of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a "prolonged argument for tolerance" and urged her fans to "question authority."

Not everyone likes her work, Rowling said, likely referring to Christian groups that have alleged the books promote witchcraft. Her news about Dumbledore, she said, will give them one more reason.

[Masterdramon]

I KNEW IT!!!

That is all.

Anyways, though, it makes perfect sense. Dumbledore was eccentric, camp, and nearly perpetually giddy. And, of course, he was completely reserved sexually for about 150 years; an early and extreme childhood heartbreak explains that perfectly. And it also helps explain why Dumbledore was so reluctant to take down Grindelwald.

Meanwhile, Rita Skeeter must be having a seizure of joy. Methinks this will make the paperback of "The Life and Lies..." :D

[WildWill]

Makes no real difference to me, but interesting I suppose. If she ever goes back to the canon she can explore this, but since it really has no impact on the overall storyline, it's more or less irrelevant.

[grim mouser]

The same. I don't really think it makes a difference. It's just interesting. In fact, it's almost like JKR thought it up on a whim.

[DigiAngel]

It came as kind of a shock when I read it.

Although,I must say it is pretty cool.


Kind of sad though,that he loved Grindelwald so,and how he was let down by what Grindelwald became.


I just hope it doesn't take people away from the books;because you couldn't really tell;which is quite genius I think,for Rowliing not to cave in to any kind of stereotypes.


I always just thought he was just eccentric,like Ron says in the books:''A genius,but mental''.


But it does makes sense if you read the last book,him loving Grindelwald.
I wonder if his love was ever returned,or was it one-sided??

[vdraconis]

I totally called it after I finished book 7.

[Exiled]

.......Damn. This was unexpected

But I wonder why Sexual Orientation is relevant to the plot

[grim mouser]

It's not. It's just something that either JKR thought up suddenly or put in for no real reason.

[Sword_Stalker]

i kind of feel the same way. it is like if you find out ronald weasly is gay, no real difference. in fact you can think that all characters without expressed sexuality is gay. it is like saying, hello this is my friend bob, then saying he is gay. kind of not of any importance.

but i see more books being sold for people trying to find all the clues that he is gay

[Fulkron]

I can't help but think that this is just a fanshipping that Miss Rowling thought of before the insane yaoi fangirls.

[`Phenom]

I havent read a single Potter book, but Im sure him being gay isnt that big of a deal in terms of storyline.

[Sephirtoh_Masamune]

This is great. I hope more people will realize that being gay is just a preference and not something to judge someone on. Dumbledore being "the man" as I always called him makes him an "idol" in my eyes...per say. Someone so big in a book, and being gay, should have a HUGE impact on homosexual understanding. At least I HOPE it does.

Congrats J.K. You freaking genius you...

[soviet prince]

I knew that dumbledore was not really a wizard, he is actually a fairy :D

[myth buster]

Makes no real difference to me, but interesting I suppose. If she ever goes back to the canon she can explore this, but since it really has no impact on the overall storyline, it's more or less irrelevant.

Which is why this is even stranger. Precisely because this was completely unnecessary, this is a coarse statement to make.

[Mist_Shinobi]

This is great. I hope more people will realize that being gay is just a preference and not something to judge someone on. Dumbledore being "the man" as I always called him makes him an "idol" in my eyes...per say. Someone so big in a book, and being gay, should have a HUGE impact on homosexual understanding. At least I HOPE it does.

Congrats J.K. You freaking genius you...

So you completely condone JK Rowling sending a message of gay empowerment to kids everywhere?

Like everyone said, it made no difference to the story. Now Rowling is just trying to shove her liberal views into children, which in my opinion, is wrong.

[Sword_Stalker]

then don't watch a buster episode. it's okay to be gay.

it made no difference to the story in fact i mostly thought every man in the story was gay except the ones with women interests.

i always wondered why he was so interested in harry potter. maybe he had an interest in harry

[soviet prince]

what Jk did was stupid and unnessary, makes me loss alittle respect for her.

since i heard the news I can't help but wonder what dumbledore was really thinking when he was looking at harry in chamer of secrets.

[Charninja]

The homoerotic slash-fiction of the bad fanfiction website empire shall blot out the sun!


Than we shall read in the shade.

Ahh, the filler.

[Near]

since i heard the news I can't help but wonder what dumbledore was really thinking when he was looking at harry in chamer of secrets.
Why is it that people suddenly think Dumbledore had it for Harry?
What's with that idea that gay people are pedophiles?
Ugh, honestly, he probably felt for him like a grandpa to a grandson. And nothing else.

And what was stupid about it? What, she should deny the fact that gays exist?
Frankly, this doesn't change anything.

[soviet prince]

no it stupid becuse it's unnessary this is a childrens book you know

[Near]

no it stupid becuse it's unnessary this is a childrens book you know
And..? Your point being?
Children shouldn't be aware of the existence of gays?

Not to mention she didn't mention it IN the books, and no kind of gay scene EVER occurred, so I fail to see your point.

[redshift71388]

He is?? Wow, that's cool. And good for J.K. for making him so. Stick it even more to the religious naysayers.

And here are the jokes: The Onion (http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/rowling_dumbledore_is_gay).

since i heard the news I can't help but wonder what dumbledore was really thinking when he was looking at harry in chamer of secrets.
Ok, so if he had been straight all along, would you expect him to have feelings for Hermione simply because she is the appropriate sex? Didn't think so.

Well anyway, that's another reason why Ian McKellen should have played him in the films.

[Mist_Shinobi]

The problem I'm seeing with this is that it's not really about gay tolerance or acceptance, but of gay empowerment.

[DigiAngel]

The problem I'm seeing with this is that it's not really about gay tolerance or acceptance, but of gay empowerment.

''gay empowerment''??What exactly do you mean?
And how is J.K. Rowling ''forcing her liberal views on children'' when there was no mention in the books whatsoever in the books about Dumbledore loving anyone?

I really think it was genius of Jo to not focus on his sexuality what so ever in the books.


Also it's funny how people say they''have no problem with gay people...but...''

Kind of an oxymoron,ne?


And it really is idiotic to say Dumbledore had a thing for Harry.

[Mr.Missingno]

I can care less about this whole gay Dumbledore thing.But I wonder,if he loved Grindelwald,did Grindelwald love him back?

[OmegaMan1144]

So you completely condone JK Rowling sending a message of gay empowerment to kids everywhere?

Like everyone said, it made no difference to the story. Now Rowling is just trying to shove her liberal views into children, which in my opinion, is wrong.

I certainly don't approve. Mist_Shinobi is correct. Her spewing these things at children is just wrong, especially when it makes no difference in the books.

[soviet prince]

He is?? Wow, that's cool. And good for J.K. for making him so. Stick it even more to the religious naysayers.

And here are the jokes: The Onion (http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/rowling_dumbledore_is_gay).


Ok, so if he had been straight all along, would you expect him to have feelings for Hermione simply because she is the appropriate sex? Didn't think so.

Well anyway, that's another reason why Ian McKellen should have played him in the films.

I was joking lol ppl take things to seriously.

I still believe that this was stupid of JK to do, what is the point in revelaing that I think she did it to increase hype on her book.

Additional Comment:

And..? Your point being?
Children shouldn't be aware of the existence of gays?

Not to mention she didn't mention it IN the books, and no kind of gay scene EVER occurred, so I fail to see your point.

It sends the wrong message to children, I agree with mist that she should not be stuffin her liberal views on kids.

[Junior]

Meh, it's irrelevant and doesn't even relate to anything.

Also soviet, what's wrong about that? You act as if you're homophobic. How is it a wrong message? I fail to understand what you are trying to say.

[soviet prince]

Meh, it's irrelevant and doesn't even relate to anything.

one of the many reasions why is was a bad move by Rowling

[Mist_Shinobi]

''gay empowerment''??What exactly do you mean?
And how is J.K. Rowling ''forcing her liberal views on children'' when there was no mention in the books whatsoever in the books about Dumbledore loving anyone?

I really think it was genius of Jo to not focus on his sexuality what so ever in the books.


Also it's funny how people say they''have no problem with gay people...but...''

Kind of an oxymoron,ne?


And it really is idiotic to say Dumbledore had a thing for Harry.

The issue here is not whether Dumbledore loved someone or not.

The issue here is was it truely neccesary to reveal Dumbledore to be gay. If is was not, then think...why did Rowling do it?

It's not a message of tolerance.

[Sword_Stalker]

And..? Your point being?
Children shouldn't be aware of the existence of gays?

Not to mention she didn't mention it IN the books, and no kind of gay scene EVER occurred, so I fail to see your point.

that is the entire point of it.

this isn't supposed to improve the story of the books, it is for three things:

make more people buy the book for some of their own interests, maybe to find any scene that he might be gay in, or to help them cope with some gay need

promote a later book deal

Harry Potter movies can now show gay scenes with dumbledore without completely alienating the viewers. maybe show dumbledore shaving his legs, or sharing a hot dog with some guy, or shoe shopping. just something to add a twist to the movie.

it is not of a social move that she is doing this, but it is an economic move

[soviet prince]

that is the entire point of it.

this isn't supposed to improve the story of the books, it is for three things:

make more people buy the book for some of their own interests, maybe to find any scene that he might be gay in, or to help them cope with some gay need

promote a later book deal

Harry Potter movies can now show gay scenes with dumbledore without completely alienating the viewers. maybe show dumbledore shaving his legs, or sharing a hot dog with some guy, or shoe shopping. just something to add a twist to the movie.

it is not of a social move that she is doing this, but it is an economic move

right on the money could not say it even better.

[WildWill]

And with that I think this thread needs closing. You're all getting too involved poltically and that's not what Pojo is about. Keep your opinions on liberal bias and homophobic views to yourselves. They don't belong on Pojo.