I can see that I did not do that correctly. I apologize.

I wasn't sure why she did this -- it certainly didn't add to or detract from his character or the story, IMHO, though it did perhaps explain the depths of his infatuation with Grindelwald and his ideas.

Maybe she wanted to write this aspect of Dumbledore's character into the story right from the first, but she or her editors knew it would most likely make the folks who were already up in arms over the witchcraft aspect of the book positively apoplectic.

I was surprised by her announcement, but it really doesn't color the story one way or another for me. My kids and I have loved Dumbledore since book one, nothing's changed.

The CNN link is below:

Here is a link that might be useful: Fans Ponder Dumbledore Revelation

I hadn't really thought about this until the last book, and then I did pick up the undertones in Dumbledore's descriptions of Grindelwald, and wondered to myself if he was gay. I'm sure this will stir up lots of hate and discontent. I look forward to the day when sexual orientation is just part of a character's overall description and not a cause for controversy.

After hearing this from several news outlets, the last time on BBC America as we were driving, my 8yr old daughter said, "Why is it such a big deal if a character is gay? Who cares?" Perhaps I'm way off base, but I think most kids probably share her sentiments.

I don't think it was actually necessary to even declare an orientation one way or the other. There is no need to - there is no predicament in any of the books where this would even matter. It is an unnecessary detail - akin to telling us whether or not Ron needed to shave or Mrs. Weasley used fertility drugs. ...unless she wants to sell more books. That's how I see it... a publicity grab.

PAM

"Irrelevant" was my first thought. PAM capped it precisely. I can't imagine she needs any publicity so why, why why? It is odd because not only is it irrelevant to the stories, this particular disclosure is bound to stir up controversy.

>"Why is it such a big deal if a character is gay? Who cares?"

There are many adults as well who share that sentiment. Silly, and potentially harmful for the book. I now can hear the flutter of anti potter religious folks ready to swarm on this new information. Great.

If it was obvious that this was the case in the book, I wouldn't bat an eye. But I don't think it was and don't get how this revelation will change anything.

My reaction was "who cares?" Is she suddenly missing all the attention now that the series is over?

Chris, my immediate reaction was that the outing had something to do with the idea that gay people are all around us, and you learn to care for someone without knowing and then the knowing becomes so unimportant because you already know the person as a whole person. The sexual orientation is so minor. But for too many people, knowing it before knowing the person colors everything.

As I reread this, I see my point is less than perfectly clear, but I'm going to leave it as it is. I think it gets across what I'm thinking about it.

It sounds like an afterthought to me, an attempt to promote tolerance for homosexuals the same way she added ethnic minorities and muggleborns. I'd like to know if she meant to include Dumbledore's orientation in the books but were stopped from doing so?

It would seem that JKR has become a wee bit addicted to massive publicity hype in the past years and is craving her "drug".

Next thing we are going to hear is that Hermoine was turning tricks at Hogwarts.

For goodness sake JKR, take your bazillions and have a life!

Yeah, I'm torn now between thinking she really wanted to work this into the book but was unable to do so, and thinking she's not used to being out of the spotlight and craves more attention. So hard to know which!

>my immediate reaction was that the outing had something to do with the idea that gay people are all around us, and you learn to care for someone without knowing and then the knowing becomes so unimportant because you already know the person as a whole person

Thats what I thought as well, and could give her the benefit of the doubt if this is why she did it. People need to know that sexual orientation has nothing to do with the type of person they are. But if she wanted to make this kind of statement, she could have done so within the book. Doing this now just makes her look silly, and makes many of her readers go 'huh'?

From what I've read about it, she was doing an interview and someone asked about Dumbledore's love life, and she "outed" him. I'm (obviously) not an author, but I'd imagine writers probably have a very specific idea in their heads about what each character is like. Thus, probably in Rowling's mind Dumbledore has always been gay...and when asked in the interview about his love life, rather than lie and make something up, she announced that he is gay. I guess I personally don't see it as a publicity stunt when she was asked the question, and gave an honest answer.

I also read somewhere that during the making of the 6th movie (which I think is going on right now), Rowling read the script and discovered they were going to hint at a (female) love interest for Dumbledore in the movie. So she then sent the director a note telling him that the female love interest wouldn't work....since Dumbledore is gay:-).

Kelly

I'm in the camp of those who believe most authors create extensive backstories for their characters. Only Rowling knows if this is truly the case for Dumbledore. I think it's interesting, however, that the initial report I read from Publisher's Weekly said that her answer to the fan's question about Dumbledore finding "true love" was: "I always saw Dumbledore as gay." Every report I've seen since then has her saying a more emphatic "Dumbledore is gay." I realize it's a minor point, but saying she always "saw Dumbledore as gay" gives credence to the argument that this was always backstory for her. She has since said she would have never revealed this in an earlier book because it was an important part of the end of the story.

Another interesting point I saw made on some blog was the fact that she answered a question about Dumbledore finding a true love by saying he was gay. In other words, because he was gay he couldn't find true love?! Wow.

Neil Gaiman had some interesting things to say about this subject and answering reader questions about backstory. You can find it at the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Neil Gaiman

Thanks for the link, merryworld.
Per Gaiman - "All that tells us is that Ross Douthat doesn't write fiction." Exactly.

I don't write fiction, either, but I read plenty of it, and I've taken several fiction-writing courses. I think writers often use their "unused" backstory for other books/stories, as Gaiman suggests.

One thing about which I'm rather curious: did Rowling & Co. know in advance the questions that were to be asked at the Carnegie Hall affair? I know they sometimes preview questions, or the questioners are chosen based what they intend to ask. It would interest me to know if this question was chosen deliberately, or just came up in the course of an unplanned session.

JKR has quite a bit of backstory for all of her characters, so it seems likely that DD's orientation isn't something she made up after the fact.

>I think writers often use their "unused" backstory for other books/stories, as Gaiman suggests.

That wouldn't surprise me at all, in fact I'd expect it. I suspect as a writer you can't help but think of your characters' lives. My problem with this is that it did nothing to forward the book, and that if it was so important to her she should have put in the book.

I am hoping it was detail she shared as a gut reaction response because in her mind it was a matter of fact. As if Hannah Abbott had been traumatized by her goldfish in her formative years and a reader asked JK why Hannah wouldn't stick her head in the school's aquarium. JK would instinctually respond, "Because she has a goldfish phobia, duh." Even though no one outside of herself had knowledge of this history, she has lived in this world so long these characters simply are who they are to her.

Of course, this is what I want to have happened. I admire her on so many levels, I do not want to think she would do this as a calculated publicity stunt.

Further info from JKR: Dumbledore is Gay: Letter

Some more thoughts on the outting of Dumbledore. Despite the title, I felt this article made some good points.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dumbledore