View Full Version : Dumbledore comes out of wizard closet
Raph's Girl
10-19-2007, 09:22 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/ap_en_ot/books_harry_potter_2
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.
Well...at least that question has been answered.... :P
The hell?
Now I'm waiting for Christopher Tolkien to come out and explain the truth about Frodo.
Jo Dawn
10-20-2007, 12:26 AM
Well... 'prolonged arguement for tolerance' indeed. I have zero problem with this... What does worry me is the psycho moms who are already being INtolerant about the books.
...Oh, and the fanficcers. They scare me most of all.
Anyhow, good for JK. She rules.
...well, that explains a bit... :lol:
Barkworm
10-20-2007, 01:47 AM
I don't really care about this but I'm glad that the religious nutjobs will have another reason to hate the books.
GK Punk
10-20-2007, 01:57 AM
i agree with Barkworm
Sewer Bull
10-20-2007, 02:22 AM
The hell?
Now I'm waiting for Christopher Tolkien to come out and explain the truth about Frodo.
Or Gandalf. Sir Ian McKellen played him, that can't be a coincidence.
a_big_apple
10-20-2007, 03:19 AM
Or Gandalf. Sir Ian McKellen played him, that can't be a coincidence.
Thanks, now I have images of Gandalf/Dumbledore crossover fanfiction in my head.
ZariusTwo
10-20-2007, 11:33 AM
Well with Radcliffe jacking Horses nude, I suppose the franchise's non-existant innocense doesnt need sheilding...
Mecha Cow
10-20-2007, 12:47 PM
Err, OK. Kind of weird to 'out' a character after the series is finished, especially since his sexuality never had any bearing on the story, but whatever.
How long will take for morons to start claiming the 'Snape kills Dumbledore' business was a hate crime?
Jo Dawn
10-20-2007, 01:13 PM
Err, OK. Kind of weird to 'out' a character after the series is finished, especially since his sexuality never had any bearing on the story, but whatever.
Well... Actually, it was a question already with many fans. So, she just answered their questions.
Rooish
10-20-2007, 01:48 PM
Wow, I never even wondered about Dumbledore's sexuality. Still, it's really really cool that Rowling would ignore the prejudices of people and put a gay character in her book.
Swany
10-20-2007, 01:53 PM
To me it just seems like shes trying to keep the fans interested.
And in the words of JK "Oh God! The fanfiction!"
And lets not forget the fan art.
Spawn Guy
10-20-2007, 02:19 PM
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3094202/1/The_Christmas_Party
Jester
10-20-2007, 04:35 PM
I have to agree that this just seems like an extemporaneous addition to the mythos that has no real bearing on the character. I mean, come on, what does it matter is Dumbledore is straight or gay?
Mecha Cow
10-20-2007, 04:53 PM
I think the sudden implication that Dumbledore was in love with Grindelwald is incredibly contrived, actually. Eh, I just hope this doesn't mean future movies will have 'subtle' hints regarding Dumbledore's sexuality (And no, not because I am 'anti-gayz' or whatever).
Hell, I'm not even sure if Rowling was entirely serious with that statement. Of course, she can't very well retract it now. :lol:
Spawn Guy
10-20-2007, 05:02 PM
Cause then she'd be anti-gayz!
PipingPringle
10-21-2007, 06:13 AM
Oh man, I love JKR so much right now "Oh my god, the fanfiction"
Love!
But I am glad she left it out of the last book, not because I don't want Dubledore to be gay, but because it would have distracted from the story. I think this is just one of a lot of things she's revealed after the last book, though I would wager the most controversial.
Man, I really hope she wasn't joking. It really didn't seem like it in the article when she defended Dumbledore's taste in men "Falling in love can blind us to an extent"
Jo Dawn
10-21-2007, 01:41 PM
She didnt put it in the story because it had nothing to DO with the story. But it was his character. She is the author, he is her character. Anyone who writes fiction knows that their characters have certain traits that aren't important to the story; but we know them anyway.
I found it good for her that she had such rounded out characters and, hey... Now we know even more about the world she created!
"Falling in love can blind us to an extent"
I found that incredibly poignant. And something for us to take from it, as adults and humans in general.
And it's not to 'keep people interested'. Good Lord, HP is nowhere NEAR needing people to be reminded of it, hahahaha.
Lady R. Santi
10-21-2007, 03:01 PM
I was not surprised when I heard this news yesterday. It was not as obvious in the books as it has been in the movies...especially after Richard Harris and even with Michael Gambon. And it really doesn't matter to me. Other than his bit with Grindelwald (which actually adds some depth to the relationship), it has little bearing on the story or how I think about the character.
Jester
10-21-2007, 07:22 PM
Anyone else wonder if this is a PC attempt to add diversity to a series that has been occationally panned for it's lack there of?
Peanut
10-21-2007, 07:29 PM
No. Not in the least, because 10 years from now when kids start reading Harry Potter, there won't be any mention of Dumbledore's sexuality at all.
Anyone who thinks that JK was saying this for any other reason than to just answer the question is kidding themselves. She wasn't trying to garner more interested in the series, she CLEARLY wasn't trying to make the characters in the book more diverse, she wasn't doing anything besides answering the question truthfully.
Masked Ninja
10-22-2007, 02:31 AM
I guess my question is "why?"
I mean, if it wasn't significant enough to put in the actual book, why bother?
Roseangelo
10-22-2007, 02:36 AM
I guess my question is "why?"
I mean, if it wasn't significant enough to put in the actual book, why bother?
I think Peanut's got the right answer. She was just answering the question truthfully. Why wasn't it mentioned in the book? Because it wasn't relevant to the story. Can a character only be gay if it's part of the story? I would say not.
Jester
10-22-2007, 07:49 AM
I can agree with that, but you thinkl there'd be some, even very small refrences to it. But then again, I haven't read all of the books, so who am I to say there weren't.
Drtooth
10-22-2007, 08:37 AM
Good thing we have this "news" report of a fictional character's supposed oreintation that wasn't even implied. Really isn't significant at all in the least.
Barkworm
10-22-2007, 12:17 PM
This isn't the news section, it's the "books" section and we have many HP fans around. That's significant enough.
Mecha Cow
10-22-2007, 12:19 PM
Technically, 'Dumbledore is gay' isn't a direct answer to the question, but whatever. Either way, it doesn't matter.
Jester
10-22-2007, 01:40 PM
Dumbledore is just a very happy wizard.
Thanks, now I have images of Gandalf/Dumbledore crossover fanfiction in my head.
One reason why I didn't go that route. :P
Lady R. Santi
10-22-2007, 04:45 PM
I can agree with that, but you thinkl there'd be some, even very small refrences to it. But then again, I haven't read all of the books, so who am I to say there weren't.
I think that Dumbledore's intense friendship with Grindelwald was plenty reference. I couldn't help but note when I read the book that it seemed almost obsessive. They were inseparable, the two of them. Now, him being gay never crossed my mind but in context, with this knowledge, I think that *is* the reference. Again, not that it's truly important after the fact, but it does add another piece to her richly detailed universe and serves to make the friendship and breaking of, even more poignant.
But it makes me wonder if Grindelwald was the same...seeing as how he made reference to Hitler. :P
BubblyShell22
10-22-2007, 05:20 PM
Yeah, I've heard about this, but it doesn't bother me. It doesn't change my perspective of Dumbledore in the least. To me, he'll always be the wise wizard who was Harry's mentor and friend. Some people are speculating that Dumbledore's relationship with Harry was more than just a sort of fatherly relationship, but I disagree.
Yeah, the Bible thumpers are gonna have a field day with this one.
Hmmm, well thats interesting...and I agree, I believe she was just truthfully answering questions, nothing else (and definately not trying to garner more interest in the series- I mean really, is that even possible at this point? Theres a freaking theme park being built!).
This got me thinking though, can anyone think of any other prominent gay character in children's literature? Cause I can't.
Tinuvielsdreams
10-22-2007, 08:05 PM
I wasn't surprised, and if she wants to come out and add even more in depth details about the characters that is great.
We really didn't know much about Dumbledore till book seven anyway, now after the fact there are just even more facts being given.
JK could always write something else, maybe she is doing research getting fan reactions...
I know I am digging deep but I really just can't accept that its over...lol
Oh, I'm sure she isn't going to just leave her writing like that. I think she's done with Harry Potter and is probably going to try her hand at something else...heck, it could be just as epic as HP, or even greater. You never know.
Random Fact: Yesterday, everyone at school was talking about this and different kinds of slash pairings with Dumbledore. I found that very funny... :lol: He's still the same great character in my eyes, no matter if he went to gay rights parades or not.
Lady R. Santi
10-23-2007, 08:26 AM
I wasn't surprised, and if she wants to come out and add even more in depth details about the characters that is great.
We really didn't know much about Dumbledore till book seven anyway, now after the fact there are just even more facts being given.
JK could always write something else, maybe she is doing research getting fan reactions...
I know I am digging deep but I really just can't accept that its over...lol
She has already considered writing an encyclopedia of sorts, probably not unlike her other additions, that would encompass her vast imaginary world. I could see an entry on Dumbledore having presented this information.:)
Drtooth
10-23-2007, 08:54 AM
This isn't the news section, it's the "books" section and we have many HP fans around. That's significant enough.
... the fact that the news media is treating it as a news story I mean. not the web board.
Scandia
10-23-2007, 09:05 AM
It truly does not affect the plot in any way. He is my favorite character- and I was not concerned in one way or the other.
Jo Dawn
10-23-2007, 07:02 PM
No. Not in the least, because 10 years from now when kids start reading Harry Potter, there won't be any mention of Dumbledore's sexuality at all.
Anyone who thinks that JK was saying this for any other reason than to just answer the question is kidding themselves. She wasn't trying to garner more interested in the series, she CLEARLY wasn't trying to make the characters in the book more diverse, she wasn't doing anything besides answering the question truthfully.
Agreed.
She has already considered writing an encyclopedia of sorts, probably not unlike her other additions, that would encompass her vast imaginary world. I could see an entry on Dumbledore having presented this information.
Indeed, with the proceeds going to charity. I think it'd be brilliant. Though I'm sure it'll be longer than any of her other books, haha. I'd love to see it.
Oh, I'm sure she isn't going to just leave her writing like that. I think she's done with Harry Potter and is probably going to try her hand at something else...
She already is; a crime drama. I'm highly anticipating it. But with her level of detail, I'm sure it'll be a heck of a plot; twists and all!
BubblyShell22
10-24-2007, 09:16 AM
Yes, I've heard about both the encyclopedia and the crime drama. I can't wait to read both of these. And JK knows that fan fiction writers are going to have a field day with this story.
VaughnMichael
10-24-2007, 07:46 PM
I don't even see why this is a big deal, people get so crazy over the dumbest things about a fictional characters sexuality.
I mean I'm used to girls going gaga over young guy characters and asking but seriously this like like some old wizard lol I just find it odd this such a question would even come up at all.
Like I said I think we've got allot more to care about right now than rather a character is gay or not.
BubblyShell22
10-25-2007, 03:45 PM
I do agree with that, Putrescent. Frankly, it doesn't matter if Dumbledore's gay or straight. He can still kick Voldemort's a**.
Jack Skellington
01-30-2008, 06:25 PM
I imagine it went like this: dumbledore:"harry come here." harry:"yes?" dumbeldore:"i want to ask you if snape is available for somthing tonight?" harry:"OH, for training Alright!" dumbeldore:"uh.. training right!!"
ZariusTwo
01-31-2008, 01:20 AM
He can still kick Voldemort's a**.
He'd be in it first wouldnt he?
Jo Dawn
02-02-2008, 11:11 AM
...I just adore how we can take the most meaningless thing and yet still be able to be childish about it. :roll:
ZariusTwo
02-02-2008, 12:31 PM
I love how you needlessly bait over a joke, displaying your own adolescense. :roll:
Hannah
02-02-2008, 01:00 PM
I just love rolling my eyes. Don't you? :roll:
Jester
02-02-2008, 04:11 PM
Maybe I should track down a Dumbledore figure to do some toy toons ala the "If Doom were gay what would he say?" toons.
I think that Dumbledore's intense friendship with Grindelwald was plenty reference. I couldn't help but note when I read the book that it seemed almost obsessive. They were inseparable, the two of them. Now, him being gay never crossed my mind but in context, with this knowledge, I think that *is* the reference. Again, not that it's truly important after the fact, but it does add another piece to her richly detailed universe and serves to make the friendship and breaking of, even more poignant.
Yes, but Santi (and I know this is a long time coming, but I don't know what made me think of this.) that's almost the same reasoning some use to say that David and Jonathan were in fact homosexuals and not just "close as a brother" friends. Just because someone has a male or even female friend that they care for as a sibling and love more than themselves doesn't make them attracted to them sexually.
Mr._Mutant_Man
02-02-2008, 10:05 PM
Hmm. I guess I'm kind of indifferent on the Dumbledore thing. For me a character's sexuality really isn't a big deal one way or another, as long as they don't become a "token gay", as in either being a stereotype (okay in comedy though I guess if written well) or just there just for the sake of having a gay character.
I know in Battlestar (spoilering this just in case):
Admiral Cain was revealed to be a lesbian. Maybe it was the Quiznos ad that made it seem kind of out of place (for those who saw it, the one that said "It has now been revealed...!" all the time), but I thought it added something to the Cain being cruel to Gina thing that wasn't even necessary. We knew Cain was someone that would go to any lengths to get what she wanted, I don't think the having a relationship with Gina thing was needed too.
Sewer Bull
02-03-2008, 01:01 AM
I chuckled at Zarius's joke, does that make me a bad and childish person?
Kunoichi_Haruko
02-03-2008, 06:28 AM
I chuckled at Zarius's joke, does that make me a bad and childish person?
Yes. Yes it does. :|
But you're in good company. I chuckled, too.
Jo Dawn
02-03-2008, 10:06 PM
I love how you needlessly bait over a joke, displaying your own adolescense. :roll:
It's not showing my adolescence, nor baiting, it's in my maturity that I can voice my opinion to not like childish, unwarranted 'jokes'. What's childish is the need to respond to it immaturely.
And this is why our forums have so much trouble.
Swany
02-06-2008, 07:17 AM
I don't know if I've actually mentioned this here before but what the heck.
There was a conversation between two girls at my school when the discussed Dumbledore being gay.
Girl1: It doesent really matter anyway, the series is over.
Girl2: Yes it does! Now we know why Voldermort was so afraid of him! [DEAD SERIOUS FACE]
It may be the stupidest/funniest thing I've ever heard.
It's not showing my adolescence, nor baiting, it's in my maturity that I can voice my opinion to not like childish, unwarranted 'jokes'. What's childish is the need to respond to it immaturely.
And this is why our forums have so much trouble.
I was going to say something about Voldemort's tongue after Zarius' initial post, but I'll bite mine and keep it to myself.
:P (<---- tongue-biting smiley)
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