Dumbledore is gay

[DrWahoo]

Okay, I know everyone will totally disagree with me and all, but I need to vent and have my emotions tempered by good dialog.

Here is a article about the subject
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102100683.html

For me the problem is not that Dumbledore is gay, but when and how Rowlings outed the man. I feel it was done in a way to be provocative and controversial and to alienate social conservatives. I mean can't we just enjoy something with out all the dang controversy ? If she wanted to promote tolerance, why wait until a whole bunch of books are sold and then out him ? Plus, it kind of makes his relationship with Harry all yucky and takes the innocence out of the tension in their relationship. I can imagine now that at gay pride parades, men dressed in Dumbledore costumes with Harry Potters on leashes.
I guess to be honest what it comes down to for me is that as Christian I defended her as someone who just wanted to write a good story for kids that didn't truly clash with our values, but I guess I was naive and have to listen to a bunch of people say " I told you so."

[Vanquisher]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I don't see why there has to be controversy. I don't think the relationship with Harry was at all creepy, and if it wasn't creepy before he was outed, then it certainly isn't now. Can't a grown homosexual man having a loving, caring relationship with a child without it being sexual, charged, perverse, etc.? The tension in their relationship had nothing whatsoever to do with Dumbeldore's sexuality. Dumbledore loved Harry as he would love a family member. It isn't yucky to me, not in the slightest.

I think more than conservatives would have problems with gay pride parades with men dressed as Dumbledore with little Harry's on leashes. It isn't that type of relationship. That would be almost incestual and wrong on another level. As the article pointed out, Dumbledore was a kind, brilliant, but flawed man, and a good character. Is he suddenly more evil because he is gay?

She probably waited to out him because of the type of reaction that she feared people would have, the reaction you are having. It is a shame.

[houseelf]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

What Heidi said.

Kelly

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Very well put Heidi! :nothing:

[PrincessFiona]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Does Mrs. Weasley's love for Harry seem creepy and gross too? I'm just wondering if everyone's sexual preference overrides all other personal qualities, or if that just applies to homosexuals.

A person's (or in this instance, a character's) sexual preference should not be the key definition of them, and it seems that is precisely the problem when it comes to social conservatives. That, to me, is what is sad.

Yet again - another member articulates it better than I would have.

:nothing:

[DCJenn]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Um, they're not real people...

Just a thought.

Jenn

[PrincessFiona]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Um, they're not real people...

Just a thought.

Jenn

:>

kris

[Tenacious_D]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Heidi hit it on the nose!

[poky]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Heidi hit it on the nose!

[Stella]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Okay, I don't know anything about Harry Potter. But I saw that article online today and forwarded it to SO who loves those books. I think it's pretty lame that she came out with it NOW. I don't know if I fully believe her. It seems like a media ploy or maybe I'm just way too cynical. :anyolne:

Whatever. It's just a bunch of dumb kiddy books if you ask me.

:run:

[DrWahoo]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

The reason why I brought up Dumbledore’s relationship with Harry, is because it was an issue in the book. Not because he is gay. I just think the way Rowlings handled Dumbledore’s sexuality makes it seem like it’s shameful. If that’s who Dumbledore is then don’t keep it a secret, who cares what people think. I feel she feeds into stereotypes by even suggesting in the book that his relationship with Harry was tainted.

[Tenacious_D]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

Whatever. It's just a bunch of dumb kiddy books if you ask me.

:run:

Oh dear...that quote is a debate in itself :tsk:

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I did read that article, and I wondered how she knew Dumbledore was gay. I mean, did he tell her?

I thought it was some publicitiy thing too. Who cares- they are fictional characters. It was totally unnecesasry to "out" a fictional grandfather character.

BTW, though I would call myself "socially conservative" I didn't at all think that Dumbledore's relationship with Harry was tainted. I didn't say "Ah-Ha- that explains a lot!" But rather, maybe that explained why he didn't want to kill his arch-enemy... And even then, who cares. She is trying to fill in some of the holes from after the fact, IMO. It's not relevent.

Also, I have met lots of gay men (my mom is a professional musician) and I have never felt creeped out or even thought about it that way! Not based on something like sexual orientation.

[DrWahoo]

Re: Dumbledore is gay

I would have never thought anything about their relationship in any way, if Rowlings herself had not made it an issue in the book. She was the one who had that Rita chick write chapter in the Dumbledore book that suggests that Harry and Dumbledore had a scandalous relationship.