Sorry, Melissa. I will go as Melissa M now. I wasn’t even thinking that people would associate me with you and I sorry if that has been a bad association.
Grady, I think what Ann was trying to do was show that African Americans, as people who have been oppressed in the past and still are right now, face many of the same struggles that homosexuals encouter as well. They both are minorities in our country that need to be respected, but yet, are sadly discriminated agaisnt.
Melissa,
You’ll notice that the argument I sketched out quickly to Ann has no mention of religion or the Bible. So I fail to see how you can claim to understand my position, although I appreciate the effort toward identification.
Some of us “homophobes” also have friends and loved ones who are gay. I enjoy their company and hope for the best for them, just as I would any “straight” person. But I can do that in the face of disagreement with something they do. Maybe that’s a mystery to you, but it doesn’t deserve to be labeled bigotry or hatred.
When you label with animus something you don’t understand (and you’ve shown little or no understanding of my position to this point, and I really doubt you’ve read the folks I have on the issue, and understand their arguments, too), that is bigotry. Why isn’t some charity in order, at least until you come to some understanding of where a person is coming from?
Regards,
Steve
My biggest problem with this bit of news is that it seems JKR is telling us that in order to type-cast the character of a benevolent, loving, and selfless men (basically a man with near flawless ethics who’s only sin seems to be loving too much) is to visualize him as a gay man. Do heterosexuals really give men such a bad name that JRK could only write such a morally superior character by visualizing how a gay man would behave? Does “gay” come with a sense of moral superiority? Because I honestly fail to see even a hint of sexual attraction between Dumbledore and another man in the entire story line. If that’s the case then how does visualizing Doublemore as gay help to write his character unless it helped bring her own bias about homosexuals to life? I guess the only newsworthy thing here is that JKR has a bias in which she believes gay men are in some way morally superior to those who are not gay. Because really, what is distinctive about Dumblemore if not for his flawless ability to love absolutely perfectly. The idea that JKR can only picture this kind of person being gay is very sad to me. It plays into all kinds of rediculus stereotypes… That would also explain why he’s such a good cook, dancer, dresser, etc. Get my point?
And yet you still can’t give any reason as to why you feel this way. FYI, not a very good debating technique—“I disagree with you, but I don’t have to tell you why!” And you have the audacity to call me a bigot in a pathetic one-liner.
If you ever do engage in some form of debate not on the internet, remember that “Because I say so” is not a legitimate supporting statement.
Strut95, your views always made sense to me. I was just trying to refute them because I believe that they are wrong. And everyone else has pretty much broadcasted their views on homosexuality in this discussion. It really isn’t necessary to hide them even if they offend me and many others.
And I know homosexuality is one of America’s many, many “gray areas,” but if you are looking for a fantasy world, why would you chose a particular one that has such a plethora of dark, sinister elements rather than one that would just be fun for you?
I realise that Dumbledore’s sexuality is causing a big uproar, but I find it sad that it is the only topic of discussion for 43 pages. Are people not interested in discussing other revelations as well?
My question to you all, is regarding the inappropriate charms Aberforth was practicing on goats. Rowling told the 8 yr old that “he was trying to make a goat that was easy to keep clean, curly horns.”. Frankly I do not get the joke. Maybe it is because I do not understand the many levels it can be taken. If someone could please explain the real meaning of this, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
hmm i didnt see that one coming lol. its going to be intresting to see if they put that in the movie and what it will be like because i really cant imagine Michael Gambon acting gay lol. but yea very intresting the whole interveiw answer alot of questions. i still cant get over that there isnt gonna be anymore harry potter books it sucks, im keep re-reading all of them over and over again lol
I´m really really annoyed by JKR. As Sionna Raven mentioned already she, JKRs message in terms of her teacher /Snape : ‘It’s right totake revenge, he deserve it.’ I wonder why nobody of the so called “tolerant” Christians exclaim that she is wrong! Yesterday a JKR fanatic fan wrote following sentences at Mugglenet: On another note I’d just like to add that Rowling is one of the brightest and cleverest fiction writers of our time. Her works are like a new Bible of morality for our generation. She preaches love, acceptance, virtue and hard work. To be clear. This person is wrong. Neither JKR is a tolerant person nor is she very loving. She said she is up to take revenge. Her unwise and really stupid “gay remark” is from my point of view the revenge on her critics. This woman hates critics and she is not capable of bearing it. She is a big confuser and her “followers” are blinded by her. She chumps up now with the gay activists, just for being popular. I absolutely do not buy the mockery she is playing in front of a million audience. As long she takes revenge we all can be sure she is nothing else than a huge hypocrite. I´m not angry with her personally. I feel sorry for her.
Aww mannnn…someone said, ‘Lily, James, Remus, Lupin, and Sirius’ in the question. D: It’s like some other question where someone asked if ‘Sirius, James, Remus, and Remus’ were in Gryffindor. They used Lupin’s name twice first around and then Remus’s first and last name here. o_o What the hell ever happened with Peter after their years at hogwarts?
WOW, that’s what I call a news.. What a furor! Being gay myself, I must admit that I have not wasted a thought on Dumbledores sexual identity throughout all of the seven books. Still it makes sence to me. And also, (Mrs. Rowling, i don’t know if you read all this comments, but this is something that goes staight to you) it proofs for another time what i have always liked about her writings: it is that their figures – even if they are completely out of the fantasy world – show a striking depth of emotionality. And she always has surprised readers with showing them that there’s more than black’n’white. Great stuff to think about. And to all you bigotted fans out there like Grady or Former Fan (Ever considered that the mere fact of a a man and a woman being married and having children may say something about sexual identity as well, so what are you whining about, if Rowling had Dumbledore Coming Out post-mortem??? We as gay men and lesbian women find ourselfs in a world that is filled with heterosexual stories in every media which is one more reason why some of us have to struggle real hard to find their own way…) You may have missed the core of the Rowling Writing: the pledge for tolerance and open minds versus bigotterie and hate. and there are several layers in these books that can be read that way… even if Harry himself is straight, the whole concept of book one has a lot in common with a coming-out-story: not belonging to the world you are thrown in and finding a family of friends in another – wellhidden – world…
so: respect, Mrs. Rowlings, i think this was a brave remark. all the best to you.
When my sister made me look at the headlines, I saw the accompanying picture and thought, “Oh no, what’s she up to now?” When I read it, I cheered! Thank you Jo, for teaching the next generation to look at life with an open mind and more importantly, an open heart!
Steve, I alluded to the Bible because that has been the big source for mostly everyone on this site when they reference their beliefs agaisnt homosexuality. So, I, consequently, informed you of my pretty deep knowledge of that text and also informed you of my knowledge of a very signifcant major source of opposition to homosexuality: the Catholc church and their arguments. I also heard the same line of arguments from my very very very Catholic grandfather for a very long time. I always understood what he was saying. I knew where my grandfather was coming from. He was a deacon and he could not openly contradict the Bible.
And how can you truly love and appreciate your friends when you disagree with such a vital part of their identities? And that is a mystery to me, yes. I love my friends and family, who of course, have flaws, but homosexuality, to me, is definitely not one of them.
Steve, why do you disagree with homosexuality if it doesn’t hurt anyone (other than in a society hurts them because of it, therefore it hurts people way)? Is it just because you think its weird or icky? Or on religious grounds?
If you really wanted the best for gay people you know, why not promote greater tolerance so they won’t have to live in a society in which many members feel contempt for their way of life? If I cared about someone as a person, I wouldn’t perpetuate a belief or ideology in society that makes their life difficult.
Melissa, if I go any further down that road in order to reply to you, I would be posting my views on homosexuality. I really don’t think that those views belong on a Harry Potter website. :-) Besides, my main beef is with Rowling and her dishonesty. Lets just say that the Potter series, in my opinion, doesn’t need the extra dimension of complexity that homosexuality introduces. For instance, you mentioned genocide. Genocide is a very simple issue. If you look closely, you can understand the motivations of both sides. Very “black-and-white.” Homosexuality is a very gray area without definite sides. It is definitely not “black-and-white.” If I was reading a political commentary or watching a debate, I would be in a different mindset than when I’m trying to relax and enjoy a good story. Make sense yet?