JK Rowling outs Dumbledore as gay

At first glance, the article posted on this website may seem to be nothing more than an entertaining distraction from the conventional. One has to ponder the significance of a minor gossip-inducing shocker courtesy an accomplished member of the literati. In the days following the newsbreak, the importance of this admonition on the part of Rowling about one of her much-loved characters finally sunk in for me. Years back, the late Reverend Jerry Falwell conjured a tempest of criticism for claiming that Tinky Winky of the Teletubbies was gay. Not long ago, the otherwise intellectual founder of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson, claimed that one of the characters from the kid's movie Shark Tale was gay. Both men suffered blows to their credibility and ushered forth waves of satire. Yet, noting this story, could it be that Dobson and Falwell were justified in their assumptions? As this BBC article shows, there are indeed children's characters that are gay. This grants a new sense of feasibility to the claims of Dobson, Falwell, and others like them. Maybe the next time a conservative preacher claims a character from children's entertainment represents homosexuality, they will not be looked upon as idiotic but presenting a valid opinion. NOTE: If it turns out Rowling was just kidding my whole point is indeed null in void and apologies in advance.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has revealed that one of her characters, Hogwarts school headmaster Albus Dumbledore, is gay. She made her revelation to a packed house in New York's Carnegie Hall on Friday, as part of her US book tour.

She took audience questions and was asked if Dumbledore found "true love".

"Dumbledore is gay," she said, adding he was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, who he beat in a battle between good and bad wizards long ago.

The audience gasped, then applauded. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy," she said.

"Falling in love can blind us to an extent," she added, saying Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down" and his love for Grindelwald was his "great tragedy".

"Oh, my god," Rowling, 42, concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction".

Fan sites have long speculated on Dumbledore's sexuality as he was known for having a mysterious, troubled past.

Rowling told the audience that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, she saw the script carried a reference to a girl who was once of interest to Dumbledore.

She said she ensured director David Yates was made aware of the truth about her character.

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell welcomed the news about Dumbledore and said: "It's good that children's literature includes the reality of gay people, since we exist in every society.

"But I am disappointed that she did not make Dumbledore's sexuality explicit in the Harry Potter book. Making it obvious would have sent a much more powerful message of understanding and acceptance."

And a spokesman for gay rights group Stonewall added: "It's great that JK has said this. It shows that there's no limit to what gay and lesbian people can do, even being a wizard headmaster."

Rowling also did a brief reading from the seventh book in her best-selling series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as part of her Open Book Tour of the US - her first there for seven years.

She said she regarded her novels as a "prolonged argument for tolerance" and urged her fans to "question authority".

But she added that not everyone likes her work. Christian groups have alleged the books promote witchcraft. The author said her revelation about Dumbledore would give them one more reason.

The seventh Potter book broke sales records on both sides of the Atlantic when it was published in July, selling 11 million copies in 24 hours.

The fifth film adaptation of the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released this summer. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is due for release late next year.

Source: "JK Rowling outs Dumbledore as gay", BBC, located at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7053982.stm, accessed December 10th, AD 2007.