Rowling outs Dumbledore

[NoHall]

They don't, just as a person does not have to be straight to be a model to straight youth. What's wrong with a role model being gay and why would that instantly alter a young persons sexual orientation?

I didn't see anyone saying that there was anything wrong with a role model being gay. It just seems like a politrick to "out" this character after the series was done--why didn't she just say that he supported the war in Iraq, or that he was an Evangelical Christian, or a Vegetarian?

 

[Mango]

They don't, just as a person does not have to be straight to be a model to straight youth. What's wrong with a role model being gay and why would that instantly alter a young persons sexual orientation?

What would make Dumbledoore a bigger role model than let's say Gore Vidal/ Writer, Joan Baez/Singer, Andy Warhal/ Artist, Yves St. Laurent/ Designer, Bruce Hayes/Olympic Swimmer...... all admittedly gay........should I go on?

Just asking?

 

[Matt J]

IMO it stinks that Rowling has messed with the sexual orientation of countless kids by announcing this. I mean, why doesn't she announce Dumbledore's political affililations, whether he is "green," whether he is a vegan or not, etc. Is she just trying to get a different set of people to read the books (since this is supposedly the last in the series) to hunt for clues regarding Dumbledore's sexuality? I have no bias regarding someone's sexual preferences, but IMO the young audience to which the Harry Potter series of books is directed is not ready to make these judgements. IMO.

The bold part is what bothered me.

 

[scooterbug44]

None of the above mentioned people are very prominent in the elementary & middle school arenas.

Dumbledore is a major character in a worldwide publishing and marketing machine.

 

[NoHall]

The bold part is what bothered me.

I see your point, but the way I read it was that Children's lit for kids in the Potter age group is typically neutral. It doesn't talk about who has sex with whom, and now parents will have some 'splaining to do to kids who are young for that sort of discussion.

 

[scooterbug44]

If they're too young to understand that gay people exist/have the idea that a man can love a man or a woman can love a woman explained to them, they're too young to understand most of these books.

We're talking about characters in books that are hundreds of pages long.

 

[kathydwells]

The bold part is what bothered me.

I agree sowalgayboi. I don't think that outing Dumbledore will "mess up the sexual orientations of kids". IMHO, either you are or you aren't. I don't believe you can "change" a persons sexual orientation. You are born the way you are. IMHO.

 

[Mango]

Dumbledore is a major character in a worldwide publishing and marketing machine.

Doesn't really make him a role model IMO with the exception of fighting evil with a wand. Not terribly realistic though.

I don't have issue with a gay charachter in a book or play, the issue is that parents now may be "forced" to address sexual orientation with their kids before the child may be ready for it, and who gives anyone that right to make that decision for a parent? There are kids yet who haven't heard, and eventually they will hear it from another kid at school.

I agree sowalgayboi. I don't think that outing Dumbledore will "mess up the sexual orientations of kids". IMHO, either you are or you aren't. I don't believe you can "change" a persons sexual orientation. You are born the way you are. IMHO.

Ditto to that Kathy IMO.

 

[mrs.rocket]

If they're too young to understand that gay people exist/have the idea that a man can love a man or a woman can love a woman explained to them, they're too young to understand most of these books.

We're talking about characters in books that are hundreds of pages long.

I concur! This book deals with very adult subject matter and if parents are comfortable with the material they should be comfortable with some very challenging questions that may come with it.

Besides....yawn....this subject is, as old Dumbly would say, old hat.

I can't believe it's so controversial. It's just a book, people!

 

[scooterbug44]

Doesn't really make him a role model IMO with the exception of fighting evil with a wand. Not terribly realistic though.

I don't have issue with a gay charachter in a book or play, the issue is that parents now may be "forced" to address sexual orientation with their kids before the child may be ready for it, and who gives anyone that right to make that decision for a parent? There are kids yet who haven't heard, and eventually they will hear it from another kid at school.

My point was that most of the people you listed are dead, or so old and reclusive I thought they were dead, and pretty much unknown to the average middle school child. You don't have multiple blockbuster movies featuring Bruce Hayes (Warhol was in an Austin Powers though) and while Vidal is a prolific writer, his books & essays are not standard fare for kids like the 7 Potter books.

As far as a gay Dumbledore forcing a parent to discuss sexual orientation with their child, I guarantee that they already go to school with a child who has a gay parent, relative, or family friend, listen to music by a gay artist, and are constantly hearing much worse things than "Dumbledore is gay" from their classmates and the media.