At a press conference this morning in Toronto, author J.K. Rowling was asked repeatedly about the recent revelations regarding the background information on Dumbledore and the fact that she said she felt this character was gay. Saying “I’m not kidding,” about this statement Jo made last Friday in New York, the author went on to note “I know that it was a positive thing that I said it for at least one person because one man ‘came out’ at Carnegie Hall.”
The Star (DH plot spoiler at link!) continues on to note J.K. Rowling emphasized the information was revealed because she was asked a direct question about it, and said “she didn’t feel the need to be explicit about Dumbledore’s sexual preferences because she wanted to focus on character development.
“If you were an author then you would understand that when you write the ending it comes at the end,” she said.”
Update: The entire video press conference with Jo is now online, here. Thanks Mahri!)
Jo continued on to say:
The plot is what it is,” said Rowling. “(Dumbledore) did have, as I say, this rather tragic infatuation but that was a key part of the ending of the story so there it is. Why would I put the key part of my ending of my story in Book One?”
Rowling said Tuesday she found it “freeing” to out Dumbledore, adding that the passages about him will mean different things to different readers.
“I think a child will see a friendship and I think a sensitive adult may well understand that it was an infatuation,” she said.
UPDATE: Reuters has more now from JKR, who elaborated on her decision to reveal the information about Dumbledore stating:”He is my character. He is what he is and I have the right to say what I say about him.”
Jo also said again “she might work on a Potter encyclopedia for charity, but only after a long break.”It’s like the break-up of a marriage. It’s a good idea not to see each other for a while, then maybe you can be good friends afterwards,” she said.”
Update 3: Photos of Jo from the press conference in Toronto, Ontario Canada are now up in our galleries, here.
Im surprised shes even going to do another HP book period after how you so-called fans have treated her. Its a shame how we live in the same world with you ignorant bigots.
These comments truly crack me up :D Did you really think that all these hundreds of characters were heterosexual? In what world were you living in again?
I’m not the one who parades down streets and forces school to make little children learn about my lifestyle. Who’s the one shoving crap down peoples throat?
It is unnatural to write a book where all of the characters are white, or black, or straight, or gay. Real life includes all of these features and a book that deals in our reality must include as many races, colors, and sexual orientations as possible. One cannot assume that a person is straight or gay because of the necessity to fit one’s own personal tolerance sphere. People are gay and straight all around us, and its our job to accept them all.
The next time someone feels the need to spout their intolerance, he or she should:
a) Learn how to type. Ignoring punctuation, correct spelling and grammar makes you look like you are 3 years old. No one will take you seriously.
b) State your claim from a logical point of view. Don’t say that it’s wrong because “I think so”, state its wrong for real reasons. Otherwise, it makes you look uneducated, intolerant and unwise.
This is only aimed at a few people here, and you know who you are.
whitney ur comments are way out of hand jo is not a coward DD sexulity does not matter that much it just helps us relize how hard it was for him to finally go after gryindiwauld thats why it wasnt in the books why would jo need to keep fans she already has alot and she doesnt need the money plus one of the most important messages in these books is to accept people for who they are which apperantly u cant do so why were u evan reading them?
I’ve said my thoughts on this topic in the comments before, and I just want reiterate that I think that this does not change Dumbledore’s characterization that much for me…it just brings more understanding and light to his character. As for people who are commenting about her “key part” response, I think she was talking more about the AD/GG relationship, and less about just Dumbledore being gay.
I understand that some find this against their beliefs, but why should that change what Dumbledore means (or meant) to you? This series, above all, is about love, something supported in the Bible and by religions across the spectrum. Don’t forget that.
No we don’t need to teach others about our heterosexuality because it is just assumed that it is right, that is even worse. It is shoved down our throat everyday. How many books did you read when you were a little kid where a prince saved another prince and they lived happily ever after? That’s what I thought.
How can people actually think she wants to bolster her sales even more than they already are? She said it herself, it was an answer to a direct question. The only way to get out of the hook would have been by lying. There’s absolutely no reason whatsoever for her to hide information anymore since the last book has already been written.
It’s a key part to the story because it explains in a new light Dumbledore’s actions but it wasn’t necessary to explain it in detail, since his sexuality was never even remotely important to the main plot and would have only served to distract from the really important issues in the book. She left the whole subject ambiguos enough for each reader to draw their own conclusions.
I can understand some parents being bummed about it, since many of them don’t like to talk about sexuality, specially homosexuality, with their kids and the books couldn’t shake their kiddy aura no matter how much darker they got as they progressed.
I don’t see this information increasing her sales, in fact, it could decrease them on some conservative parts of the world where the book hasn’t even been translated yet. Then again, they end up not buying one book while people who haven’t read the books and are now intrigued, could end up buying all seven.
Has anyone asked Jo if Dumbledore was the only gay character? There could be another one and we wouldn’t know about it because no one has asked her directly.
I can accept people for who they are, I don’t care if you gay or not but why do you have to make such a huge deal out of it? Why do you have to parade down streets and make schools teach little children about your lifestyles? I don’t understand why you do it.
oops sorry kos i probly should have paid attention to grammer on my comment but i cant spell and i never really rememember punctuation so people please take my comment seriously =)
Whitney, if you hate them shoving it down your throat, stop shoving your heterosexuality down theirs’