I have loved the Harry Potter series since as a counselor at camp many years ago I read it to one of my campers to help him combat some homesickness. I consider myself a huge Harry Potter fan, but today, I've become an even bigger fan.
At an event held last night at Carnegie Hall, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series and now one of the wealthiest people alive, told the crowd that she always felt Dumbledore - the headmaster of Hogwarts (Harry Potter's school) and mentor to Harry Potter - was gay.
While one could argue that this news would have had an even bigger effect if it had been revealed either in the book or before the series was completed - I think it will no doubt have a profound effect. The series doesn't appear to be anywhere near the end of its popularity and this news will surely spread rapidly among fans of all ages.
I found this news so positive that I had to find multiple news sources before I'd actually believe it was true. Below is an article from the Associated Press. A trip to news.google.com confirms that hundreds of other news outlets are covering the story as well.
I feel this is particularly wonderful for GLBT youth who now have another positive role model who happens to be a key character in the most popular book series (keeping in mind that the Bible is a book and not a series) in history. I'm not sure that J.K. Rowling knows how much of a positive impact this will have - or maybe she knows exactly how much of an impact it will have on the lives of some young people - either way... Kudos to J.K. Rowling!! It's an exciting day for Harry Potter fans!
J.K. Rowling Outs Hogwarts Character
By HILLEL ITALIE – 13 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — 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.
BTW - in regards to her quote that his love was his "great tragedy" - some have seen this as a commentary on his sexuality. I completely agree, I think if anything it shows that the love GLBT people for our partners is the same as anyone else. After all, your love must indeed be genuine and true for it to have such a profound impact on your life. I suspect that sadly, many in the hate industry would see such an impact an impossible thing since our love is - in their minds - somehow fake or otherwise not real.
Posts
