http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/ap_on_...nEDaxGuG3.s0NUE

:lol: Well this certaintly explains a lot.

So opinions people? Honestly I'm very happy with this and think it's great though I reckon their should have been more hints at in the books.

I've just seen that too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7053982.stm

I'm also surprised that she didn't make more of an issue of it in the books. It would have made the fight with Grindelwald all the more understandable than "he stole my idea and twisted it". I mean, the disappointment, the rejection, the unrequieted love...it's Snape all over again!

I think it would have been a brave thing to do as well, but she bottled out. To make one of the main characters of a children's book gay, well, someone needs to get with the times and do it! She could easily have slipped that in when Harry met Dumbledore in the station and he got all his other questions answered.

Fascinating.

I'm cool with it. My brother is gay, so gays are an everyday part of my life.

I'm glad that when JKR created Hogwarts, she included so much racial and ethnic variety. I hadn't expected sexual orientation to be included, because the books are ostensibly for children. If she had included it in the books, even more children might have been forbidden to read them. (Although you're right, Ankaa, if she had held it back until the scene at Kings Cross, she might have been able to get away with it). And it certainly adds new layers of meaning to the fight with Grindlewald!

And strangely, it seems plausible to me. I once read a fanfic on that topic (the author's remarks suggested that it was the most outrageous topic that he/she could think of, DD/Snape). I thought it was silly, but somehow it stuck in my mind as possible for DD. It seemed wrong for him to be so totally asexual.

*goes off to re-read the scenes about Grindlewald*

So that's really interesting that JKR decides to out Dumbledore after the series is finished. It makes me kinda sad that she didnt have the nerve to do it explicitly in the books, but I am glad she let the old guy out of the closet. And all this time I was a Dumbledore McGonagal shipper. I guess I finally understand what all those Harry Hermione people feel like. Good for Dumbledore. I thought only one time that he might be gay. It was when Harry was reading the table of contense to the Rita Skeeta biography and there is one chapter that about Dumbledore and Harry and Skeeta gives a kinda of Michael Jackson vibe just to be viscious. Of corse we all no there was nothing inappropriet about Harry and Dumbledore's realationship, but for just a moment I wondered, "Is Dumbledore gay?" I didn't really answer myself because it didn't and doesn't change the way I see him. He is brilliant and wise, manipulitive and secretive, and the best danm Headmaster ever. I live in one those backward states where if a teacher is homosexual they lose their job. I hope there are some Harry Potter fans on the State Board of Education.

To be totally and completely honest, I dont' like this at all. It has nothing to do with the notion of being gay, and all of people Dumbledore being in love with, Gellert Grindelwald? That completely destroys the uniqure friendship that they once had. Even though it turned out horrible, I loved the fact that here were two guys were had a really good friendhip. That's gone now because JK has now romanticized it with Dumbledore being 'smitten' by him.

Nope, I don't like this.

Even if she planned on Dumbledore being gay, I wish she hadn't revealed it. I don't think there is a single thing in the books that hints to this. And that's what frustrates because the series is done and over with and just now do we learn this about Dumbledore.

This only proves one thing to me: That there are still a lot of loose ends that JK did not tie up. :no:

I didnt get any "gay vibes" from Dumbledore either honestly. I dont mind the concept of being gay, but I do completely agree with Rogue that it just means JKR didnt clear everything up in the books. She should have either added it to the books, or never said anything about it at all. Next she'll be telling us that Sirius really is alive, but there wasnt enough room in the book to tell us. I mean seriously, why tell us now? O.o

Some people don't give off gay vibes. And there were not hints about it in the books because it is a children's book and people were not just blabbing about there sexuality. And really folk that is the only thing difference between gay people and straight people, there sexuality. Everything else is just stereo types. So how would you have liked your hints to manifest? Should there have been a scene in the pensive that showed Dumbledore kissing his past lover? Should he have tried to hold Cornelius Fudges hand? That is the only way sexuality can be expressed in these books. Maybe there were a few hints. Dumbledore was smart and uncommonly sensitive and caring. He felt love was the greatest force on earth yet he was a confirmed bachelor. He loved to wear purple and had a fondness for strange hats. Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is why didn't we see these hints. Is it possibly because we didn't want our wise hero/mentor to be gay?

I think that it was a good idea to keep Dumbledoors gayness a secret, i mean, yeah, there were a couple of hints, like Scarlett said, but if she had made it more obvious in, lets say the second book or somthing, how do you think those christian rights people would have acted.
First off, they think that a book about witches is the devils work and they already banned it in my school(but i read it anyway) how do you think theyd feel about a 'gay warlock'?
Exactly, they would of had a bunch more protests and probubly would of sued JK even more then they did and would of made a big stink about it. An author has to kep that in mind you know.

All I'm saying is that if she wanted the world to know that Dumbledore was gay, then she should have said so in the books somewhere. If she wasnt going to talk about it in the books, then she shouldn't have brought it up at all.

Yeah I agree, for me it has nothing to do about him being gay or whatever. But from a reader whose been following the books for day 1, I'd like for that to be expressed in the books. It's ridiculous to get this huge revelation about a character after the series is done and over with. Like Dream said, that's just like JK telling us Sirius really being alive, or having a twin brother. It's proposterous, IMO.

I've since found a few hints at it actually. :) AND I'm 100% certain that there is a million more things to find out about all the characters. You CANNOT create a world and story such as JK has without knowing EVERYTHING there is to know about your characters even if it is completely irrelavent to the story itself. If she didn't do this then HP would never be as good as it is and it's the major thing I love about the series.

I COMPLETELY disagree. DD being gay was not important to the plot or anything within the series of the book, ergo there is no need at all to put it in them at all and I think it's very wise of her to do so. Her head would have been ripped off if it had, though it does slightly sadden me that she didnt have the courage to do so but meh . . . it doesn't matter because it's not important.

If everything that I'm sure JK must have in her head about her characters and what they are/have done/ect. was put into the books then . . . well I think we would all still be reading the first one.

Do you have a reason for this view?
Anyway she didnt actually bring it up herself anyway from what I've read, she had to tell the director and she was asked so she told the truth . . . whats so wrong about that?

I do agree with this though . . . JK has always came across to me to be a rather clumcy writer though for lack of a better term.

HAHA so true . . . I was racked off to find out a few years back that one of my childhood mates was gay. He is so damn hot it's not fair :(

Gutted, What a pointless and i think false revelation. Think JK was sitting around thinking well everyone that was ever going to buy these books have already read them so sales and interest are going to start fallin' off. i wish there was a way to put new lfe into it the series.......I KNOW, LETS MAKE DUMBLEDORE QUEER!! And just like that everyone talking about Harry Potter again. Also think the reason it was never revealed in the book (If it is even true) is as rightous as we all think we are we all know a lot of people who would never have bothered carryon reading the books or even started them. And gutted now when i argue lord of the rings and harry i cant even mention their gay grey wizard :angry:

I had no idea. im fin with it bucause some of my friends are gay, but DD? no idea. I always pictured him as a man who didn't love, in that way. He was like a priest. Im like Rouge, that runis it for me. Not that i haveany thing against gay people or anything, but it ruinis him for me.

I agree with Shonk.

JKR says on her site that there is tons of stuff she knows about her characters that didn't fit in the books. This came out because there was stuff going on in the next movie that would have been against the vision JKR had for one of her characters so she had to out him. It wasn't in the book because it didn't belong in the books. Not every adult in the books has partner, so it's not strange that Dumbledore is without a mate. Everyone was fine with Dumbledore being asexual, why would anyone have a problem with him being homosexual.
It don't think this a marketing ploy, but it might turn out to be a rather good literary technique that changes social perception. JKR creates a character that many see as a hero, yes he is flawed, but Dumbledore is a hero nontheless. Then once the books have been read and our perceptions of characters have had a bit to set, and settle, she reveals a trait the character possess that while hinted at was never overtly stated. Now if your perception of the character and the trait don't mix you have to changer your perception of the character or his trait. For a lot of anti-gay people it is not going to be real hard to say that Dumbledore is a f** and they never liked him anyway, but for someone who is sitting the fence on this subject or was merely going along with the ignorant herd, it might give them a reason to rethink their hatred. And what about the boy or girl who are homosexual and see no intelligent, sensitive, wise rolemodels in children's literature. Well now they have one. I am glad JKR revealed Dumbledore's secret. It is good for us all to see our heros in their full glory.

I dont care if he's gay or not. That's not my issue at all. If he had been gay in the books, I still would have read them. It doesnt affect the character in my eyes at ALL. My problem is that she is adding things to the story that she didnt write. I dont care if Harry and Ginny had a huge fight and got divorced when they're kids were in Hogwarts. I dont care if Hermione dies at the age of 30. If that's what is in her head, and she doesnt write about it in the books, then she should leave it in her head. If she wants to share it with the world, then write another book. Dont give these lame interviews afterwards and say "Oh yeah and this is what was really going on, even though I never told you. It's just like all of her clues in all of the other books. Any unanswered questins (And there were a bunch) left me feeling very unsatisfied. Now she's bringing up even more issues than the questions I already had. It frustrates me, and make the finale of the series even more disappointing to me. It's not about him being gay to me at all.

What hints have you found? And I understand from a writing perspective about knbowing more about your character than you would ever need for a plot, but something as constroversal as Dumbledore being 'gay' one would think that this would have at least been suggested or hinted in the books. I dunno about anyone else but I never once got the impression that DD was gay. For her to reveal this now and for us, as a reader to go back into the books and try to find hints to this, isn't our job.

I disagree. I think it is important to the plot. The fact that Dumbledore was in love with Grindelwald, his long term rival speaks volumes. How did this effect their relationship? Is this more of a reason why DD hated him in the end? JK adds that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down" alludes to the fact that Dumbledore acted on his feelings, maybe confessing his love to Grindelwald, etc. But Dumbledore hated him. . . .so I feel disconnected with that. He acted on his feelings, was turned down and this was what led them to their road of rivary? If anyone, this opens the door to more unanswered questions that should have been addressed in the books.

I don't think anyone in this thread has actually said that they have a problem with Dumbledore being gay. It's not about the concept of being gay at all, please understand that. It has everything to do with this never being expressed in the books at all, etc. It's almost as though she's revealed that DD had a son that we never knew about. It's such a loaded subject, in current times. I can only imagine how future generations will read/interpret the books now.

This accurately sums up my chief thoughts. I don't think Dumbledore's homosexuality is so much the issue as how this revelation redefines his and Grindelwald's relationship. In fact, this raises many question concerning Dumbledore's motives. Primarily, did he follow Grindelwald out of his own romantic feelings, only later to realize his error and turn his back on love; or did he truly agree with Grindelwald (as we are lead to believe), and only change his mind when Grindelwald turned down his advances? In other words, did he choose good over love, or did he break ties with Grindelwald as a lover scorned. The former would have been an agonizing decision; the latter makes Dumbledore--for all his accomplishments--nothing more than a bitter young man selfishly trying to spite the one who brushed him aside. I would like to think that Dumbledore's motives to do good were higher than Snape's unrequited love for Lily--another romantic entanglement that leaves much to question.

Consider Dumbledore's own statement in Philosopher's Stone about it taking far more courage to stand up to one's friends than one's enemies. In many ways, that encapsulated one of the over-arching themes of the series: standing up for what is right even when one must stand alone. From Neville trying to stop the trio's rule breaking in book one, to Dobby's betrayal of his master in book two, to Hagrid civilizing Grawp despite the centaurs' warnings in book four, to Fred and George's defiance against Umbridge in book five, to Snape killing Dumbledore in book six, to Narcissa covering for Harry in book seven… the list goes on and on. And that theme was also dominant in Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship. Until now.

In the case of good versus evil, the ends do not justify the means. Motives mean as much, if not more, than results. I like that JKR has raised the possibility of such a beloved character--not to mention a powerful and wise ally of good--being gay. What I don't like is the fact that this revelation brings Dumbledore's motives into question. I think it's a wonderful idea that was mishandled, either out of a rush to finish the series, Jo's own reluctance to address the issue of homosexuality within the context of a children's book, or the editors or agents removing those passages, assuming they were ever written to begin with (and that is a very strong possibility).

I only hope that this wasn't some kind of ill-thought marketing ploy. The ensuing debate will undoubtedly lead to more sales--much like outrage from certain Christian groups was responsible for the popularity of the first Harry Potter book--but unfortunately those sales will come a the cost of so many unanswered questions (as if there weren't already enough of those).

Actually, I don't think this will change how future generations interpret the books, so long as they remain as written. I honestly don't even see this having a whole lot of relevance to new readers today. This is the information age, and another story will soon overshadow this one. This will end up being only an interesting side note--if that much--in the Harry Potter saga.

[color=orange]I totally agree. It gives us a lot more to ponder in regard to DD's history and motives. It seems that Love maybe "the force that the Dark Lord knows not," but it sure can get a person into a heck of a lot of trouble.

I don't think that it's a marketing ploy. I think she's answering questions honestly. (And I wish that she'd answer a lot more.) All of the characters must extremely real to JKR, even more than they are to all of us. She lived with them and pondered them day and night for so long. So I think that revelations will keep coming from her. But I wish she'd reveal them in a few more books, instead of just in interviews.

And being a writter, myself, I can fully understand that. I have characters from short stories that were never published who still speak to me. Once a characer takes on a life of his or her own, they just tend to keep growing--even if it's far beyond the story they inhabit.

Hear, hear. there's obviously so much story still in her head and heart, and all these little quotes paint the untold parts only in light brushstrokes on an otherwise empty canvas. Enough stick figures, I want a Mona Lisa.

This is one thing I love about Literature . . . people have so many different interpretations and views on the same text. You for one, I know for a fact, got the heavy impression that Hermione and Harry would make a good couple, yet I never once could find any indication of that ever happening in the books. People view things different depending on their own beliefs and values in life. I can't really find 'evidence' or 'hints' in the book itself, well I havent actually looked coz I'm lazy, but it was just an impression I got by the attitude and actions of DD just as the attitudes and actions of Harry and Hermione would have led you to beleive they could have become a couple.

This is the main reason why I wished she had revealed DD's sexuality within the books. I don't think it will really have much of an effect on social perception because it was only revealed after the books were writen.

Your completely right in a sense. DD's feeling towards GW would certaintly have affected his decisions and so on and so force and it certaintly would have explained a lot if mentioned in the books and it would be important to the plot if DH was actually about them two but it isn't . . . the DD and GW thing is meerly a subplot used to help reveal crucial things need in the main plot with the main plot being that of Harry's search for the Horocruxs and battle with Voldemort.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!! :P Just because it makes you frustrated doesn't mean she shouldn't tell people more stuff!!!

I think it would be actually . . . what would there be to talk about and rant about if everything was revealed. :P

Like she needs it . . .

No truer statement in this thread.

Oh trust me I know that. It almost annoying, especially when you know none of it is relevent and never going to make it on paper but its good at the same time.


AND SORRY PEOPLE FOR THE WHOLE LACK OF SENSE THIS ALL PROBABLY MAKES! I've had like an hours sleep and can't think straight right now :D

Basically im too lazy to read all the posts in here but here's my two pennies worth.

I think its stupid how shes just announced it now. I have no problem at all with the issue of homosexuality in the books and i wudnt have cared if she would have said it earlier on, but it seems completely pointless to announce it now!
The only possible reason i can think of is that she want's a spike in book sales now that the buzz has finally died! (probanly a slightly peramistic way to look at it but hey, someone has to! lol)

I actually like the idea of him being gay(but im not, so dont ask.. LOL), I have no problems with homosexuality and I think we all kind of knew that he was, just by the way he was in the books. Also, it allows younger kids to gain another view of the world.

And like Mark said, I am sure it didnt help her sales...

I actually ment that she annouced it so that interst in the book would rise and she WOULD sell more books, i didnt mean that it would hurt book sales.

I don't know where everyone is pulling the 'she's trying to spike book sales' theory from.

She is one of the friggin richest people in the world because of her books, and that's really saying something considering writing isn't a career you get into if you want to get rich. I highly doubt she feels the need to sell more books, she had already sold more then enough.

Maybe it wasnt so much for the money as just the general interest levels. I mean there is never gonna be the same level of interest surrounding them now they've finished as there was building up to the release dates.
I mean obviously there are people like us who are just as enthusiastic but in general the interest levels have fallen and she knows there will never be anything like it again. I think she will miss it (who wouldnt!) and we might see more from Harry Potter sooner than she ever anticipated.

I don't think she is gonna miss the interest. I think she would actually like Harry Potter mania to slow down so that people will quit begging for another book. She has just finished her latest book and I think she would like people to be interested in that. Not just so it sells, but to prove she's not a one trick pony.
I really think that she never intended to let the news of Dumbledor being gay out. I think it was just one of those things that was gonna stay locked up in her head, but circumstances forced it out of her. Now we all have to live with it, just like we would if we found out one of our uncle's was gay.

As I've said before, I never saw any hint of Dumbledore being gay. And I have a lot of gay people in my life, so it's like I'm blind to signs. As to her newest book, it's based on Harry Potter. It's the book of fairytales that Dumbledore gave Hermione. So her wanting to have the HP buzz die down to get people to look at her new book, doesnt make any sense.

Really, her new book is the fairy-tales from Deathly Hallows? I thought she was writing a murder mystery. My Bad. Guess I should listen to the news once in a while instead of being on this site all the time. Maybe I am not seeing my own hero clearly -JKR really is a hero to me- but I still don't think her annoucement was a publicity stunt. She has enough money and she doesn't seem like the kind of person who craves fame. That's just my take though.

Not trying to start an argument or anything here but this is what I think is the problem with a lot of people when it comes to homosexuality. They say they have nothing against them and such (and true most of them dont) but still people EXPECT them to be different and unsual as if being gay is some sort of disease or infection that leaves them marked and they have to have these oddities or whatever to be considered gay. Gay people are just like everyone else and people seem to be unable to accept this . . . they want them to be different when they are not . . . just because they prefer members of the same sex doesn't mean they act different then anyone else. Of coasre sterotyping and cliche's are probably to blame for this really and that can't really be helped unfortunately . . . but anyway . . . yeah I'm kinda rambling here so i'll shut up. :)

I'm pretty sure she is but that isn't going to be released yet 'cause I dont think she has even writen it yet. :lol: The fairy tale thing is for charity anyway so meh . . .

I was always sure that there was something romantic going on between Dumbledore and Grindewald. I just somehow sensed it. So it wasn't such a shock. But it was kind of strange that it wasn't told in the book. Maybe j.k. just didn't want to make it all about Albus but more about Harry&co. Albus was always a very mysterious man.

I accually didnt see it comming... I dont no why i just didnt... but it doesnt bug me in the slightest...

I always thought that he and Minerva had a secret relationship/marriage or something... but when you think about it, it's not really surprising that he's gay.

Ya I agree with both of you. I didn't see it coming really. Ya Sardine, I kind of thought that he and Minerva had a secret relationship too. Guess we were wrong. I don't care if someone is gay, I have a gay friend so it doesn't bother me in the slitest. There's nothing wrong with it, and I hate when ppl are mean to ppl that are gay just because they're gay. It's soooo mean.

Oooo... I no what you mean. On the people being mean to gay people... I go out of my way to be nice to them then... But back to DD... I just always thought that he had always gone solo. He seemed like he was to powerful and cared about his work too much for dating... i never gave it thought... its like when I think of my own teachers haveing a life out side of school... its just so weird. And both of my parents are teachers so you think i would be used to it... but i think of these guys as my own teachers... so its weird to think about their life so i just never did...

Ya I get what you're saying Gerdy.

I'm not against Dumbledore being gay I just think it is sort of random. I didn't get that he was "smitten" with Grindelwald or maybe that's just me. Does any one actually have like a real hint or clue that would show that he was gay? I think J.K. Rowling really should have mentioned this in the books, maybe at King's Cross or if she really wanted to cause drama in the wizard world she could have made Rita Skeeter alude to him being gay. i think the only thing that I guess we could say was a hint would be when the Harry and Dumbledore's realationship is called innappropriate, even though we know there is nothing going on there. Now that the series is over we all these new batch of questions about Dumbledore and they will probably never get answered. I feel sort of cheated about the whole thing. I think him being gay is cool I just think it is all sort of half baked. She might have had this in her plan the whole time but she might have let her avid readers in on the secret as well.

Ya, I agree with you. I'm not against it either. I also think it was really random. WHat was the point?

There are a few hints in HBP.. unfortunately I didn't write them down. You just need to look for the tiny things.. one or two actions and maybe a sentence are the only clues I've found in HBP.

Huh... I didnt really find anything in the books that suggested it at all... But i dont no... maybe i just didnt read very carefully... oh well.. *goes back and starts reading the books very carefully*

In HBP, there are very subtle.. touches, I guess. It's just the way he acts around Harry mostly. Or maybe it's my imagination. I'll mark the things from now on (I've nearly finished the book, but there still might be some clues).