3 posts tagged “harry potter”
First off, I'll say that I don't see this as political. Some people are saying this is good, others, no doubt, are creating some crazy story about how this is harming children. I will say this, though, it's about time that films and literature started having characters who are gay without their sexuality being the crux of the plot. In real life, our stories are filled with people who are male, female, gay, straight, black, white, Asian, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and sleepy. (Along with many other things.)
The reason for the post, though, is an idiotic quote in the following BBC story, from gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell: "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."
Why is this idiotic? I think it's fine that Mr. Tatchell has a political agenda, and gay rights is an agenda I support. But the Harry Potter series wasn't cobbled together from a bunch of political issues Rowling supports. The sex lives of the Hogwarts teachers are pretty much hidden from the students, and thus from us. We know that Hagrid had an infatuation with Madame Maxime, which really highlighted the discrimination they both faced as half giants. Rowling actually never indicates whether it was consummated, and gives no indication that they ever were a couple. The only other person involved here is Snape, whose unrequited school-aged love for Harry's mother was a key to the plot. If you look at all the other teachers, you don't know if they are gay, straight, single, married, or divorced. You don't know if any of them have kids. Really, as is generally the case with students and teachers, you don't get any real glimpse of their personal lives. So, digging into Dumbledore's sex life would have been flat our bizarre regardless of his expectation. Furthermore, highlighting his sexual orientation while ignoring those of the other teachers would have been counter to what fiction needs to do: have LBGT characters who are gay because ... well ... they just happen to be, as in real life, rather than gay because the story is about being gay. It's the radical idea that being gay and being straight are both normal.
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.
What more is there to say?
This is JK Rowling's interview on Dateline.
Warning: It's filled with spoilers.
