This doesnt come as a surprise to me, when I read the book I always felt that from the way things were worded that the D/G realtionship was a little bit deeper then just friends.
The only thing that does surprise me is that it was only Dumbledore who in love and that Grindelwald didnt reciprocate.
Hogwarts should be a place of fantasy and sanctuary for young readers. There is no place there for gay headmasters.
oh yes they are so much more dangerous than tree headed dogs and deadly snakes. like any fantasy it is a reflection of the real world which does have ....Gasp! gay headmasters
The thought of Dumbledore being gay never crossed my mind. However i always wondered why Dumbledore never married or no mention of a female love interest.; especially in the 7th book, where Dumbledore's past was being explored.
I am rather disappointed in JKR, doing something like this. There was simply no need. All she needed to do was say 'make up your own mind' to those who were interested in Dumbledore's sexual preferences. No problem with having a gay character, it's just the context.
What I mean is, in todays world, the revelation puts an unsavoury slant on the whole series. Dumbledore, a lonely old codger, taking special interest in Tom Riddle, then Harry Potter. Having private meetings in his study. Taking Harry away on trips alone. It all begins to look suspiciously like he was grooming Harry.
Add this to the fact that in HP's world, wizards are effectively above the law. They only take notice of Muggle laws when it suits them, and quite regularly, as a matter of course, use spells to erase Muggle memory. If Dumbledore had been portrayed right from the start as a gay character, with someone in his life, no problem.
What bothers me is the fact that this was kept rather furtive, and revealed only now, as if it's a bone thrown to the PC mob. Oh yes, the greatest wizard in all the world is gay, right on!
This doesnt come as a surprise to me, when I read the book I always felt that from the way things were worded that the D/G realtionship was a little bit deeper then just friends.
The only thing that does surprise me is that it was only Dumbledore who in love and that Grindelwald didnt reciprocate.
What I mean is, in todays world, the revelation puts an unsavoury slant on the whole series. Dumbledore, a lonely old codger, taking special interest in Tom Riddle, then Harry Potter. Having private meetings in his study. Taking Harry away on trips alone. It all begins to look suspiciously like he was grooming Harry.
Oh for goodness sake :rolleyes: :mad:
Was Umbridge 'grooming' Harry into a sado-masochistic relationship when she had him doing detention with that evil quill?
Was Snape grooming Harry and brainwashing him when he did those occlumency exercises?
Why on earth have you conflated sexual orientation and paedophilia??
I am rather disappointed in JKR, doing something like this. There was simply no need. All she needed to do was say 'make up your own mind' to those who were interested in Dumbledore's sexual preferences. No problem with having a gay character, it's just the context.
What I mean is, in todays world, the revelation puts an unsavoury slant on the whole series. Dumbledore, a lonely old codger, taking special interest in Tom Riddle, then Harry Potter. Having private meetings in his study. Taking Harry away on trips alone. It all begins to look suspiciously like he was grooming Harry.
Add this to the fact that in HP's world, wizards are effectively above the law. They only take notice of Muggle laws when it suits them, and quite regularly, as a matter of course, use spells to erase Muggle memory. If Dumbledore had been portrayed right from the start as a gay character, with someone in his life, no problem.
What bothers me is the fact that this was kept rather furtive, and revealed only now, as if it's a bone thrown to the PC mob. Oh yes, the greatest wizard in all the world is gay, right on!
so the only safe gay man around children is a taken one Dumbledore was gay got a child molester you really are taking stupidity to new heights well done !!!!!!!!!
so the only safe gay man around children is a taken one Dumbledore was gay got a child molester you really are taking stupidity to new heights well done !!!!!!!!!
Your point would have been delivered so much better with decent grammar.
Why on earth have you conflated sexual orientation and paedophilia??
I have 'conflated' nothing. All I did was make a point about what the circumstances suggest. If JKR wanted her character to be gay, why not be upfront about it? If it was not important, then why out him now?
so the only safe gay man around children is a taken one Dumbledore was gay got a child molester you really are taking stupidity to new heights well done !!!!!!!!!
I have 'conflated' nothing. All I did was make a point about what the circumstances suggest. If JKR wanted her character to be gay, why not be upfront about it? If it was not important, then why out him now?
The circumstances suggest that Dumbledore was grooming Harry Potter for sexual abuse??
The circumstances suggest that Dumbledore was grooming Harry Potter for sexual abuse??
No, the circumstances could suggest this. Before JKR made a big deal out of it, Dumbledore was presented as a kindly old wizard, and his personal preferences were not spotlighted.
Now, it seems rather odd that such a long lived, famous, well respected man, did not in his entire life, find one other adult wizard with whom he could form a relationship. Not a single one, unless JKR has more revelations. The only time he came close, apparently, was his obsession with Gellert Grindelwald. A character who, at the time, was little more than an attractive young man.
By doing what she's done, JKR has placed the question in minds, does Dumbledore prefer young boys. Okay, there is nothing to suggest he ever acted inappropriately on any such needs. But, if JKR had just left the issue alone, a less than flattering interpretation of his life and actions would not have been possible.
I have 'conflated' nothing. All I did was make a point about what the circumstances suggest. If JKR wanted her character to be gay, why not be upfront about it? If it was not important, then why out him now?
I think the only reason she 'outed' him now is because she was asked about his love life and so the topic was unavoidable.
I have to take this with a large heap of cynicism I'm afraid.
None of us can say that Dumbledore had always been gay in JK's mind - only JK herself knows the answer to that. Unfortuantley, the cynic in me is considering the possibility that she has decided to say this for publicity reasons and nothing else. She perhaps heard about the theorizing and decided that she could squeeze a bit more out of the pink pound if she went along with it.
jonparadise
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The only thing that does surprise me is that it was only Dumbledore who in love and that Grindelwald didnt reciprocate.
THAT IS AWESOME.
I'm disappointed that my gaydar seems to be broken too.
Er, why?
I see from your posting history you have a slight (worrying) obsession with all things gay.:)
oh yes they are so much more dangerous than tree headed dogs and deadly snakes. like any fantasy it is a reflection of the real world which does have ....Gasp! gay headmasters
The thought of Dumbledore being gay never crossed my mind. However i always wondered why Dumbledore never married or no mention of a female love interest.; especially in the 7th book, where Dumbledore's past was being explored.
Is this a work of fiction?
What I mean is, in todays world, the revelation puts an unsavoury slant on the whole series. Dumbledore, a lonely old codger, taking special interest in Tom Riddle, then Harry Potter. Having private meetings in his study. Taking Harry away on trips alone. It all begins to look suspiciously like he was grooming Harry.
Add this to the fact that in HP's world, wizards are effectively above the law. They only take notice of Muggle laws when it suits them, and quite regularly, as a matter of course, use spells to erase Muggle memory. If Dumbledore had been portrayed right from the start as a gay character, with someone in his life, no problem.
What bothers me is the fact that this was kept rather furtive, and revealed only now, as if it's a bone thrown to the PC mob. Oh yes, the greatest wizard in all the world is gay, right on!
Oh for goodness sake :rolleyes: :mad:
Was Umbridge 'grooming' Harry into a sado-masochistic relationship when she had him doing detention with that evil quill?
Was Snape grooming Harry and brainwashing him when he did those occlumency exercises?
Why on earth have you conflated sexual orientation and paedophilia??
so the only safe gay man around children is a taken one Dumbledore was gay got a child molester you really are taking stupidity to new heights well done !!!!!!!!!
Your point would have been delivered so much better with decent grammar.
Quite possibly. This was state sanctioned torture, for which she was not officially held accountable.
I have 'conflated' nothing. All I did was make a point about what the circumstances suggest. If JKR wanted her character to be gay, why not be upfront about it? If it was not important, then why out him now?
Could you try that again, in English?
The circumstances suggest that Dumbledore was grooming Harry Potter for sexual abuse??
No, the circumstances could suggest this. Before JKR made a big deal out of it, Dumbledore was presented as a kindly old wizard, and his personal preferences were not spotlighted.
Now, it seems rather odd that such a long lived, famous, well respected man, did not in his entire life, find one other adult wizard with whom he could form a relationship. Not a single one, unless JKR has more revelations. The only time he came close, apparently, was his obsession with Gellert Grindelwald. A character who, at the time, was little more than an attractive young man.
By doing what she's done, JKR has placed the question in minds, does Dumbledore prefer young boys. Okay, there is nothing to suggest he ever acted inappropriately on any such needs. But, if JKR had just left the issue alone, a less than flattering interpretation of his life and actions would not have been possible.
I think the only reason she 'outed' him now is because she was asked about his love life and so the topic was unavoidable.
None of us can say that Dumbledore had always been gay in JK's mind - only JK herself knows the answer to that. Unfortuantley, the cynic in me is considering the possibility that she has decided to say this for publicity reasons and nothing else. She perhaps heard about the theorizing and decided that she could squeeze a bit more out of the pink pound if she went along with it.
Not really:
.
The question can be answered without referring to his sexuality ... especially since (spoiler in case anyone hasn't read the books):
OK, perhaps it wasn't unavoidable, but it became relevant. It wasn't a random revelation as the other posted implied.