The Guardian reports that at a Harry Potter reading Friday night, J.K. Rowling was asked, "Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself?"Rowling's response: "My truthful answer to you...I always thought of Dumbledore as gay."
She continued: Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was. To an extent, do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extent, but he met someone as brilliant as he was and, rather like Bellatrix, he was very drawn to this brilliant person and horribly, terribly let down by him.
Yeah, that's how I always saw Dumbledore. In fact, recently I was in a script read-through for the sixth film, and they had Dumbledore saying a line to Harry early in the script saying, "I knew a girl once, whose hair..." I had to write a little note in the margin and slide it along to the scriptwriter, "Dumbledore's gay!"
Wow. We really did not see that coming. It's exciting, isn't it?
Cultural conservatives are, naturally, horrified, but (1) good luck with a boycott and (2) they have no one to blame but themselves. Since the death of Jerry Falwell, they've been asleep at the wheel when it comes to casting aspersions on the inner lives of fictional characters like Tinky Winky. And now Rowling herself has beaten them to the punch!
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Ada: Only you could get excited about the outing of a fictional character. Perhaps cultural conservatives are sitting back to say, "I told you so." Personally, I think you had a crush on Falwell. It's time to move on, girl.
simpsamp272 at 1:39PM on Oct 22nd 2007
2. I resent J.K. Rowling's assumption that she can continue to define a fictional character's traits beyond what she writes in her books.
For me, Dumbledore is not gay, because Rowling wisely never indicated anything about his orientation in her books. I think she would also be wise to refrain from implying he's gay in the upcoming films.
The value of Dumbledore as a wise, selfless character depends partly on his apparent asexuality. And it should stay that way.
Anthony at 2:45PM on Oct 22nd 2007
3. Since I do not follow Harry Potter at all, I have no idea who this guy is but he is a work of fiction. I don't know about the claims of the biggest outing since Ellen Degeneres!
But the truth is America has become more tolerant of gay folks..otherwise Ellen would probably not have the popularity she has.
Folks like Jerry Falwell and that group have never spoken for anyone but a small minority anyway, and their "message" has been ringing hollow for years. From Tinky Winky to Sponge Bob being accused of being "gay" these folks show themselves only for the nutjobs they are.
David S. at 2:48PM on Oct 22nd 2007
4. I can't help but laugh at the idea that Rowling is somehow cheating by providing us with further information that she didn't include in her books. No one complained when she said she would probably work on an encyclopedia-style book containing backstory and other info that didn't make it into the books! If the backstory were exactly the same but with Grindewald as a woman, everyone would think that was so sweet and touching... and no one would resent it.
I'm amazed that these people can read a series of books that's essentially about tolerance, internalize the message, and then balk as soon as they find out what exactly they're supposed to be tolerant about.
Laurel M at 3:03PM on Oct 22nd 2007
5. Dumbledore's orientation is irrelevant to the Harry Potter series. So I'm glad it wasn't mentioned one way or the other in the books. Homosexuality is also inconsistent with my interpretation of his character, so I admit I'm a bit dissappointed and maybe others feel the same.
kezar12 at 4:33PM on Oct 22nd 2007
6. Is this opening the door for another series?
By including this twist in the story she is masterfully keeping the series alive. Sure Harry's time is up... how long can he be a mere kid. But now, Dumbledore is GAY, or at least potentially GAY.
All the kids who are already HOOKED on her books will now have NO CHOICE but to read on!
So will all the Conservative Thought Police (WOW!! a BRAND NEW AUDIENCE).
WHAT MASTERFUL PLOT STRUCTURING (manipulation ;)
I love it!
Peace
dmode16340 at 5:29PM on Oct 22nd 2007
7. By the way.....
"I'M NOT GAY"
ok.. I just had to do it....
Peace
dmode16340 at 5:29PM on Oct 22nd 2007
8. JKR has already suggested that she's writing an excyclopedia of sorts to include information that didn't make it into the books (such as backgrounds on the less significant characters); why should we be upset that she made this information known? I've read the entire series, and I see a large focus throughout the books on tolerance...why should sexuality be excluded? It adds a bit of a twist to the 7th book, if you ask me! It makes the story of Dumbledore and Grindelwald make more sense...yes, love is the most powerful magic there is, but it can also be a person's weakness (as also seen with Harry and Ginny). Thank you JKR for giving us little pieces of info like this that fill in those little gaps!!!!!
Amy at 5:50PM on Oct 22nd 2007
9. Actually... she does leave a few hints in the book. At least to some of my friends (raving insane teenage girls, who are probably within the range of the target audience) who were looking for it.
But most people would have shoved it off as a special friendship.
I didn't really care either way but there weren't just "speculations", leagues upon leagues of girls jumped on the opportunity to illustrate what little Rowling gave them to giggle and titter at it before she actually right out confessed.
It would have been funny to see the scriptwriter's face after reading the note. I just find it funny because my friends are making such a big deal about it...
Nt at 6:13PM on Oct 22nd 2007
10. I'll agree that tolerance is a Harry Potter theme. But, as the screenwriter would surely agree, it's a bit annoying to read an entire series of books - imagining a character one way - to later be told he is significantly different. If Rowling wanted to make gay tolerance an important issue in the books, she would have mentioned it in the books. She probably left it out because it would have been distracting and slightly controversial. The Harry Potter books are basically escapist fantasies; the issue would have seemed out of place. I suppose she could re-establish Dumbledore's orientation by writing about it in a future book. But, for most readers, a gay old man will be far less interesting than a bunch of teenage wizards.
kezar12 at 8:03PM on Oct 22nd 2007
11. Gay? Why not and what's the diff anyway. Of course, one starts to wonder....hm, so who ultimately followed Grindelwald in Albus's subsequent amorous affections? Professor Slughorn? Surely not the furtive and theiving Mundungus Fletcher (who actually may have had the rakish charm of an errant Errol Flynn for all we know) or -- horrors -- Dobby the elf, slaving happily and willingly away in the kitchens of Hogwarts? (And now we suspect why)
Morgan at 8:08PM on Oct 22nd 2007
12. If the Christians think they're disgusted NOW...
...just wait 'til they find out why it's called Hogwarts.
Ken C. at 8:56PM on Oct 22nd 2007
13. Anthony's got it all wrong for a couple of reasons, one of which is this: Coming up with a character's back story is important for the author, whether or not they articulate the whole thing. The clearer the picture in your head, the easier you can write about them. (If you've not written fiction, please trust me on this: I've published 25 books of non-fiction so far, am in the process of publishing a 100,000 word novel, and am 35,000 words into the sequel.)
But, even more importantly, J. K. Rowling can do whatever the heck she wants with Dumbledore because he's >her< character. It works like that. If she wants to think of him as gay, it's her business. If you *don't* want to, then that's YOUR business. If you really don't like it, don't buy her books and don't go to the movies. That'll show her!
FWIW, I never worried about Dumbledore's sexuality. I enjoyed the books and his sexuality had nothing to do with any of them. If it helped her write a better story in book 7, then what the heck?
John Hedtke at 9:08PM on Oct 22nd 2007
14. Dmode: Haw! Well spoke!! Yes, if the nutjobs are getting wrapped around the axle that Dumbledore is gay and they have to identify what secret gay agenda/conditioning/ may be happening in the books, then they'll have to read 'em for sure!
You know, if only there was some way we could get them to believe that there were secret Satanic backwards messages hidden in the movies, it'd be game, set, and match.
(And hey, if you hear anyone claming there are such in the future, then it was my idea!!! :) )
John Hedtke at 9:13PM on Oct 22nd 2007
15. There is not a single real man in any of the Potter books....Rowling evidently doesn't have a clue about maculinity. Her wimpy men don't work or fight...they manipulate the world with magic. With these role models, the next thing you'll be hearing is that poor Harry was just "confused" about his identity and his real name is Harriet.
Cincinnati Rick at 10:11PM on Oct 22nd 2007