Dumbledore is gay

Re: Dumbledore is gay

The purple teletubby started the murse.

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I think the progression of these books has made them less and less for children under the age of 13. Harry starts off as 11 I think and then grows to 17. Even then the actual books took so many years to write that her audience grew up also. That aside, Rita Skeeter ,a character in many of the books writes a book in the Deathly Hallows called "The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore". In it she has a whole chapter suggesting an inappropriate relationship between Dumbledore and Harry. Also even some gay activists are not pleased with the way Rowlings revealed his sexuality. In some articles she is noted for saying that now she's given those who don't like her books another reason to reject them. This hints at spitefulness. I also kind of think if this is the first introduction to a gay man that children are going to have, he should be a little be more admirable in the end. I even question how she views gay men. The question that started this whole thing was did Dumbledore find true love. Her answer: he's gay. How is that even relevant to the question ? It sort of implies that gay men can't find true love.

Ok LOL I thought Rita was a reporter IRL, and made me even more confused. So Rita is a character, who is tabloid reporter, who makes an accusation, that is left hanging in the books. So in the book itself it brings up a possible affair between a child and an adult. To me if this was address in the book by another character as not being true - then no big deal, but to leave it as a possibility to me would taint the whole series. To have a book loved by children, that possibly is about an innappropriate relationship, made for kids is not something that I would want for my kids. (no flaming here, just not something I would want) For this knowledge then would be for all kids to know whether 10 or 17, and whether they are reading the first book or the seventh book. I think teens can read books of depth and debate. But how does one explain this to their 10 year old reading the first book, and finds out about this online, or from their friend who ruins the "unknown"? It's impossible for this then not to taint the whole series for a young reader IMO.

I would like to read them myself eventually regardless, but to me this is just to bad for the whole series. I mean if Asland in the Chronicles of Narnia was accused of having romantic feelings for Peter that were never refuted, I would feel the same way.

[DrWahoo]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I also want to note Rita's suggestions are the first mentioning of anything sexual concerning Dumbledore. If that's the first written impressions of a gay man that Rowlings wants to put out there I think is wrong.

Re: Dumbledore is gay

So in the book itself it brings up a possible affair between a child and an adult. To me if this was address in the book by another character as not being true - then no big deal, but to leave it as a possibility to me would taint the whole series. To have a book loved by children, that possibly is about an innappropriate relationship, made for kids is not something that I would want for my kids.

Lily is right (and so am I): read them for yourself and make the decision. It's not a 'suggestion of a relationship'. Throughout Rita's presence in the series she only ever says absurd things. Example: She kept referring to Harry as a boy of 12 when he was 14 and saying his eyes were watering with tears of his past when he was perfectly composed.

I don't see saying the HP books aren't something you want for your kids as flaming. However I do see making the decision based on comments based here entirely out of context, and confusing answers to questions you've posed w/o knowing the storyline or characters as premature.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I agree you really need to read them yourself and make that decision.

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I agree you really need to read them yourself and make that decision.

Yeah I guess I'll need to read them myself. I was totally addicted to these kinds of books as a kid. More than once I was busted reading to the wee hours of the morning w/a flashlight, on a school night. Big book worm here, use to read at school while walking down the halls, kinda made me a nerd - oh well, a nerd that could read big words

I see the differance that you are saying now. I still want to read the Lord of the Rings all over again, along with the Chronicles of Narnia.

[DrWahoo]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I believe Rowlings herself says something about the importance of inclusion. And if your kids become truly interested in the books I think you would have to censor their ability to research the book on the internet if you don't want them to be exposed to the discussion about his sexuality. I also don't think this is an absurd discussion. This is a historic moment in children's literature.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I did read the books, all of them, and I don't think my daughter got "tainted" when she read them. Clearly, if I missed the whole inappropriateness of the D and H relationship, she did too. And anyway, it was a weak tabloid tactic by Rita Skinner. Not at all major in the story.

As far as Dumbledore being gay, I really don't care. It would not scare me off from having my kids read it. He is not doing anything wrong simply by being gay. That's how I see it. And I am socially conservative, evangelical background....

Still think it's publicity. It's got to get a bit anti-climatic after finishing that last book. What now? The lecture circuit to explain the characters, apparently. I would like to leave things up to the reader's imagination...

[DrWahoo]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I love the books also and I don't think children who have read them would even pick up anything about his sexuality. But how in the future will schools use the books ? I think its a catch 22. To not mention his sexuality would be intolerant, to mention his sexuality would cause an uproar.

Again what cheapens it for me now is her motives. Is she trying to stick it to Christians ? It's like being Jewish and someone you think respects your views invites you to dinner that they've made, you eat it and then they tell you its pork. I don't feel comfortable having invested my money into someone who is trying to be disrespectful. I think it would have been more courteous for her to say before the 7th book came out, "I will be revealing something that may offend some people but I am going to be true to the story." Then again maybe her publishers wouldn't let her.

[Vanquisher]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I really don't think this was done as a publicity stunt. Really. These books have sold millions and millions of copies in dozens of languages around the world.

The Harry Potter books are awesome and to discuss this tangent without having read them is :huh: .

JK Rowling has always maintained that she has had this story in her head for years with notebooks and pages and pages filled up about each and every character. Hannah Abbott, the differences and similarities between Fred and George Weasley, and for that matter the subtle differences and layers of all the Weasley's, Bathilda Bagshot, Viktor Krum, Griphook, Ollivander, Colin Creevy, and on and on and on with all the hundreds of fascinating and diverse characters. This is her world that she has created.

And, I will state once again that the relationship or any allusions to the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore were never sexual, NEVER, not once. It was a fatherly relationship, a mentor relationship. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

I cannot believe that people actually think that this author would do this to piss off the Christian right or to draw in the gay contingent. She was asked a question and answered it. I wonder if she regrets that now.

Oh brother, read the books and enjoy them for the beautiful works of FICTION that they are.

[Vanquisher]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I am seriously trying to maintain my composure here. Just one burning question: How exactly is it disrespectful to have a gay character in a book for children? (Lets even assume it is obvious the character is gay; which it DEFINITELY is not in the HP series).

I can't give you references at the moment, but my guess is that Dumbledore isn't the first gay character in kid's lit. Too bad Dickens is dead, I would really like to ask him about a few of his characters.

[houseelf]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I'm with Snow White and Heidi.

Harry Potter will be one of the longstanding classics when it is all said and done. All of the characters have texture: shades of good and evil, weaknesses and strengths. One of Rowling's greatest strenghts is her development of multifaceted characters. In my heart of hearts, I just don't see where homosexuality will trump all the excellent values and morals in this classic epic tale.

Kelly

Re: Dumbledore is gay

FWIW I wasn't talking about the character being gay, but the teacher/student component - which now I understand, I think, how it was brought up, thanks Jenn for the clarification.

But in defense of Dr.Wahoo I do think each parent has the right to decided when and how they address sexual issues, so I understand her being taken back on having to explain an issue that she didn't think was a component of the book.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

The purple teletubby started the murse.

Maybe Dumbleedude (whatever his name is...I've never read the HP series) will make it fashionable to carry wands?

[alison]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I am seriously trying to maintain my composure here. Just one burning question: How exactly is it disrespectful to have a gay character in a book for children? (Lets even assume it is obvious the character is gay; which it DEFINITELY is not in the HP series).

I can't give you references at the moment, but my guess is that Dumbledore isn't the first gay character in kid's lit. Too bad Dickens is dead, I would really like to ask him about a few of his characters.

How about Ernie and Bert?