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Bitsy
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« on: October 20, 2007, 08:25:59 PM » |
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JKR just revealed to fans during her tour that Dumbledore was gay. I always wondered why he and Minerva never got together or why there was no mention of a young love in his youth.
It's reported that during the writing of the script for HBP, there was some mention of an early love of Dumbledore, which she had to correct.
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Sharon
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« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2007, 09:09:13 PM » |
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Oh dear, if this is true I think it is quite sad. I am certainly not prejudiced against gay people but I don't see any point in mentioning Albus was gay - if it had been in the books no problem but raising it now seems like a desperate publicity stunt. I had sometimes wondered if DD had been married and had children in the early books but after reading the last book and discovering his family history (can't say too much  ) it made sense that he was single. If JKR is dropping hints about characters from the book I would much rather she told us more about the Marauders school days. |
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Bitsy
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« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2007, 09:18:24 PM » |
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Apparently it is true. It's all over the news, making headlines. Someone asked her about Dumbledore's past love life and she just responded that she had always viewed DD as being gay and that he had feelings for Grindelwald. As far as I know, she hasn't revealed too much else about the Marauder's days, except that Lupin was unemployable and impoverished due to his being a werewolf. She also said that after Hogwarts, James, Lily, and Sirius were employed full-time in the Order. James came from money, which sustained a nice living for he, Lily and Harry. She also said that Neville married Hannah Abbott, who became the landlady at the Leaky Cauldron.  |
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« Last Edit: October 20, 2007, 09:20:03 PM by Bitsy »
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Sharon
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« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2007, 10:02:21 PM » |
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Kelly
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« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2007, 10:40:16 PM » |
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Sharon, I completely agree with you on all points. It sounds like a publicity stunt and I never thought that JKR would stoop so low. Dumbledore being gay is niether here nor there, it's just stupid.
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ztaylork
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« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2007, 11:18:30 PM » |
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Wow...that is just crazy (not that there is anything wrong with him being gay)...but like mentioned...why bring it up now? What next...will Hogwart's students come forward with accusations of "inappropriate" advances from Dumbledore? I just don't get why she would do that.
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Bitsy
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« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2007, 11:55:09 PM » |
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That's the same story I read, Jackie. It's absolutely everywhere--front page.
There is a more in-depth article on HPANA, which has the additional information about Neville.
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gooniesguy
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« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2007, 07:50:16 PM » |
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I personally feel that it was a great thing. I think this will allow children to have a positive representation of being gay, and that it's not that big of a deal.
I also agree that, given the fact that things are "done" with the books there isn't too much point to do it now, but I still like the fact that she was brave enough to even think about having a gay character in a book that is so loved by young and old.
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Kelly
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« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2007, 09:11:35 PM » |
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Granted that the books took a more adult turn since POA came out, but I think discussing any aspect of sexuallity whether it be homosexual, heterosexual or other, should be up to a childs parents, not the author of a childrens book. I still see the whole thing as a way to keep Harry Potter in the news. "Dumbledore's gay! Oh, Christians don't like that. Christians are crazy and hate Harry Potter!!!!"  If she was really so brave, she could have written it into the story, which would have been a shame, since I would have had to edit that part from by 8 year old. |
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gooniesguy
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« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2007, 09:56:34 PM » |
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While I do agree it is a way to keep it in the news.. I think she did it the right way. You said yourself that you feel sexuality is for the parents to discuss, well I guess she felt the same, and as a result left it out of the books. She must have felt that it was not enough of a real story line to include it in the books, probably because he wasn't in a relationship.. so what would be the point of bringing it up? And if we really look at what happened, she was asked a specific question about his love life and answered it.. that's it.
As far as the Christian thing goes, I personally don't think we should group together anybody and say, this is how a group feels (I'm not saying that you are.. but I find people tend to assume a group think). There were already a bunch of people that didn't like the books for wizards etc. Now maybe more wont like it, and maybe more will. I just think it was an answer to a question that was asked that's all, and a harmless answer at that.
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Bogleg
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« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2007, 10:45:05 PM » |
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She must have felt that it was not enough of a real story line to include it in the books, probably because he wasn't in a relationship.. so what would be the point of bringing it up? Exactly. So I give this announcement a big "SO WHAT?" I don't think anyone who has read the books will look at them differently now this has been said. There was no hint or subtext to make anyone even remotely wonder about this subject. The question was about his love life. Not the sex of his partner. I think JK has made a mistake and it's going to haunt her with it being the one question every interviewer and journalist fires at her for a very long time. It has always puzzled me why it is such a big thing being gay. The media has to know, as if that makes someone a different person. Robbie Williams (UK pop star) announced a while ago in a national newspaper that he was straight. It was given a "who cares?" line on the inside. If he had said he was gay, it would have been headline news. Why? |
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If Artbox could give birth, it would be a redemption with the real one arriving 9 months later
The Artbox website is so old, Indiana Jones has started looking for it
Tutankhamun went on the Artbox website and saw it was out of date
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Kelly
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« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2007, 01:17:49 AM » |
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I personally don't think we should group together anybody and say, this is how a group feels (I'm not saying that you are.. but I find people tend to assume a group think). Well, I happen to be one and that was exactly my point. I'm pretty sick of all the news stories and also about JKR's attitude that now Christians will hate the books even more. That's why I think it's all a set up. I couldn't give a rip about Dumbledore's sex life. It does bother me that it'll be just another excuse in the US media to slam my faith. Aaah, enough of this already. I'm done. |
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ECL
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« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2007, 07:20:10 PM » |
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JK Rowling always seems to have a firm grasp on the world she created, and often it feels as if she knows these characters so personally. The world she created has certainly seemed so real, with such rich backgrounds and history. I don't really see this is a publicity stunt, but the opportunity came for her to reveal something about one of her characters that she probably had thought about for a long time. Maybe she decided not to reveal it in the book because of different reasons.
In a perfect world this news wouldn't be such a big deal, but it's a really tumultuous time!
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« Last Edit: October 22, 2007, 07:26:08 PM by ECL »
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LikORish-Spider
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« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2007, 02:51:41 AM » |
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I didn't think that sex was an important part of the series at all. In fact it was the total lack of it that made the series fun to read.
Besides Dumbledore is after all a fictional character, isn't he? His fictional sexual orientation is not pertanent.
If she wants to muddy the water with conflict then I find her lacking in judgement. Politically Correct crap is all it is.
My two cents worth.
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terryweasley
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« Reply #15 on: October 23, 2007, 05:58:03 AM » |
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As an adult knowing that Dumbledore was gay help me make sense of some of the things that happened in the last book. I agree with the person who said JK created complete lives for all her characters. That is what makes them so real. I also agree that sexual orientation has no place in a children's book. That's probably why they were never mentioned in any of the books. I think JK got carried away with the moment and the question being asked. I'm sure we will hear more about the other characters when she writes her Harry Potter encyclopedia. I find it funny in a way that the media is making such a big deal out of it. Keith Oberman had a person on his show discussing JK's revelations. All I know is he said something the censor didn't like because halfway through the segment, my picture went blank. We go a set of color lines. Personally I think it's much ado about nothing.
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LikORish-Spider
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« Reply #16 on: October 23, 2007, 06:41:31 PM » |
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... Personally I think it's much ado about nothing.
Agreed! |
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allender
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« Reply #17 on: October 24, 2007, 10:54:16 AM » |
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The only thing that bothers me is, I'm not sure we want to know all of the details that were not explored in the books. One of the beauties of the Potter series has been that there have been lots of gaps that readers could fill in with their imaginations. If Jo gives away too many of the secrets, there will be less room for scholarly discussions and Ph.D. dissertations on hidden themes. The best thing would be if she waits about 10 years, and then comes back and says "hey, you were all wrong". |
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ferdinand_the_yak
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« Reply #18 on: October 24, 2007, 01:50:07 PM » |
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I wish I could do a doctoral thesis on Harry Potter. Much more appealing than the options I have |
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Bryanjs14
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« Reply #19 on: October 24, 2007, 07:50:58 PM » |
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Seriosuly...is this anything new? All you needed to do was check Dumbledores Myspace page and you would find this...  In all seriousness though, anyone who wears a silver dress that FAAAAAAAABULOUS must be gay. Joan Rivers eat your heart out Ok now to be serious (honestly) I think it is a sad sad attempt by JK to keep interest in the series now that it is over. I mean yeah we still have the movies and the theme park coming, but she must had seen a big drop in sales of the books and thought up something like this to boost sales. |
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« Last Edit: October 24, 2007, 08:02:14 PM by Bryanjs14 »
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