I've Been Saying I Got Heavy Gay Vibes From Dumbledore Since I Read The Book...

[said_scarlett]

I don't mean to spam, but I need to post this while it's fresh in my mind.

So JK Rowling has revealed that Albus Dumbledore was, in fact, gay. And in love with Grindelwald. I won't spam you with the link to the Newsweek article on it, since I'm sure you've seen it a dozen times already, but...

I hope that other fantasy authors take this as a lesson. Dumbledore's sexuality was never an issue, never a selling point of his character. It wasn't even revealed until someone asked about his love life. It was just one small aspect of the character that the author had decided on to flesh him out and make him 'real'.

Maybe now we'll have less of the 'ZOMG LOOK HOW PROGRESSIVE I AM! LOOKIT MY GAY CHARACTERS! SEE HOW GAY THEY ARE? LOOK AT THEM HAVE GAY SEX BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY AND I AM WRITING THEM BECAUSE I AM SO EDGY AND COOL!' crap that is so prevalent in fantasy fiction.

I also hope more children's authors will see that having a character who's gay isn't a bad thing.

And besides all that, it's really awesome to have this brilliant, amazing, iconic character... who also happens to be in the queer camp. ;)

Comments

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Totally. I totally, totally agree. I want it to be an afterthought, and something that's not so important that it has to take over everything else. It's just plain cool :D

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Yes! Exactly! I know there will be people who will claim this is a cowardly way of doing it or some crap, but I think it's the right way to do it. Don't make a big deal. Don't emphasize that gay is 'different' and 'noteworthy'. Treat like any other little detail she worked out in her mind but never added.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Yessss. I want this to be the normal way of things, where it's no more worthy of comment than heterosexuality. We're a long way from that in general, but . . . every little thing counts, and JKR's influence is far from little.

[ladydreamer.livejournal.com]

Well, she could have definitely been more forward, but I think it was smart to leave it until now... and what can parents say about it? They already bought the damn books and exposed their kids to a *gasp* gay character. Who was the headmaster AND a teacher! Suckit bigots. Just like everyone else.

[khym-chanur.livejournal.com]

But, but, but, look at that wonderful soap-box that she put to waste! She could have turned every chapter of every book into a Very Special Episode, and with all the children waiting with bated breath for her everywhere word she could have dragged the world into a new era of enlightenment, but noooooooo.